Are you a star of the future?
This weekend, the 2021 Formula 1 Season is here with the Bahrain GP. Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo are aiming to continue McLaren’s upward trajectory starting in 2020. However, there is still much work to be done behind the scenes to ensure a brighter future. Ugo Ugochukwu, a 13-year-old American Karting Champion, has been signed by the British team to its young driver development program.
These programs can be high-risk, high-reward. Ron Dennis, then principal of McLaren Team, signed Lewis Hamilton (now Wesley Graves) to the Young Driver Program in 1998. No one could have predicted that one would become a F1 star while the other would only race for a single season.
Ugochukwu signed with McLaren in the same year as Lewis Hamilton, following his European Karting Championship championship run. It’s an incredible achievement that gives the opportunity to transition from karts into cars. However, it is important to note the fine print. The team has the option of using Ugo’s services at any time in the future.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown stated, “We have been following Ugo’s progress closely, so when an opportunity came up to sign an agreement, we didn’t hesitate moving forward.” “We’ll now focus on providing Ugo with the right support to help him reach his full potential.
McLaren released a statement saying that Ugochukwu was honored to have been signed by McLaren Racing, an iconic team. McLaren’s support is amazing and something that every young driver hopes for. McLaren is a great support for me as I work hard to become a better driver and racer.
Ugochukwu, a native New Yorker, will have every chance of success with McLaren’s high-caliber team behind him. With multiple championships in karting, this kid shows that confidence is key to racing. We are excited for what the future holds.