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Pirro departs McLaren young driver programme

Ex-F1 driver and five-time Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro has stepped down after just one year at the helm of the McLaren Driver Development Programme.

Pirro took command of the programme in April 2023 following its significant restructuring.

The revised initiative aimed to provide more comprehensive support to young drivers, starting from the karting level and fostering a clear pathway towards Formula 1.

To bolster this focus, McLaren recruited several promising talents like 2023 F3 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, F1 Academy charger Bianca Bustamant and American junior driver Ugo Ugochukwu.

Read also: McLaren F1 announces organizational changes - Sanchez out!

The trio joined existing members like Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O'Ward and F1 reserve Ryo Hirakawa, strengthening the programme's overall potential.

According to Motorsport.com, Pirro’s one-year contract with McLaren wasn’t renewed. Shifting the programme’s activities in-house has compelled the Woking-based outfit to entrust its DDP to McLaren F1 Business Operations Director, Stephanie Carlin,

Carlin, with her prior experience as Team Principal of Rodin Carlin in the F2 and F1 Academy categories, brings valuable insights to the table.

Supported by senior McLaren engineers, Carlin is poised to usher in a new chapter for the programme.

McLaren-supported F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante.

Pirro took to Instagram on Wednesday to announce his exit from McLaren’s training school.

“After a year of hard work and satisfaction, I will be leaving the McLaren DDP,” Pirro wrote.

“Together with the Formula 1 team, I was able to put in place a structure to help develop young, talented, and hard-working drivers into future McLaren champions.

“To the best of my ability, I carried out this task, scouting and signing young stars which I truly feel can carve their names into the history books.

“I trust that the internal resources who will run the DDP will continue on my path and help the programme grow, giving the type of unique support developing drivers need alongside the professionalism and experience of the great teams they are all representing.

“I have done my best in transmitting the lessons learned and the mistakes made over a life in motorsport and now I step aside and let the program walk on its own legs, grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me.

“I wish all the best to Gabriel, Ugo, Bianca, Pato, Ryo and Brando, along with the future drivers with whom a collaboration has already begun. With all of you and your competitors, the future of the sport I have grown to love so much is in safe hands. I am now ready for new challenges…”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.