Which up-and-coming drivers should you watch in the feeder series?

Drivers on the junior ladder tipped as future stars, curated from the 2025–2026 feeder seasons. This list is reviewed periodically as results come in.

Single Seater

• Leonardo Fornaroli (Italy, b. 2004) — FIA Formula 2 · McLaren Driver Development Programme: Only the fifth driver ever to win the F3 then F2 title in consecutive seasons, and now inside McLaren's F1 setup. — 2025 FIA Formula 2 champion as a rookie with Invicta Racing; 2024 FIA Formula 3 champion; Named a McLaren F1 reserve and test driver for 2026

• Jak Crawford (United States, b. 2005) — FIA Formula 2 · Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy: America's leading single-seater talent, stepping into an F1 third-driver role with Aston Martin. — Runner-up in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship; Multiple F2 feature-race wins across 2024-2025; Named Aston Martin F1 third driver for 2026

• Luke Browning (United Kingdom, b. 2001) — FIA Formula 2 · Williams Driver Academy: Williams academy graduate and 2026 F1 reserve who took multiple F2 wins in 2025. — Fourth in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship; Williams Driver Academy member since 2023; Named Williams F1 reserve driver for 2026

• Alex Dunne (Ireland, b. 2005) — FIA Formula 2 · Alpine Academy: Ireland's brightest single-seater prospect, backed by Alpine after a standout rookie F2 campaign. — Fifth in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship as a rookie, with two feature-race wins; Made an F1 free-practice appearance with McLaren in 2025; Joined the Alpine Academy for 2026 (ex-McLaren junior)

• Arvid Lindblad (United Kingdom, b. 2007) — FIA Formula 2 · Red Bull Junior Team: Red Bull's newest F1 graduate, stepping up to Racing Bulls at 18 after an impressive rookie F2 year. — Sixth in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship as a rookie; Promoted to Formula 1 with Racing Bulls for 2026; 20th Red Bull junior to reach Formula 1

• Dino Beganovic (Sweden, b. 2004) — FIA Formula 2 · Ferrari Driver Academy: Established Ferrari junior entering his second F2 season as a genuine title outsider. — 2022 Formula Regional European champion; Long-standing Ferrari Driver Academy member with Ferrari F1 test outings; Second full F2 season in 2026, moving to DAMS Lucas Oil

• Rafael Câmara (Brazil, b. 2005) — FIA Formula 2 · Ferrari Driver Academy: Reigning F3 champion joining F2's dominant team, tipped for a possible third straight Invicta rookie title. — 2025 FIA Formula 3 champion as a rookie with Trident; Ferrari Driver Academy member; Steps up to F2 in 2026 with reigning champions Invicta Racing

• Nikola Tsolov (Bulgaria, b. 2006) — FIA Formula 2 · Red Bull Junior Team: Record-setting F3 race-winner and Red Bull junior graduating to Formula 2. — Runner-up (2nd) in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship; Maiden F2 podium in the 2025 Abu Dhabi sprint race; Red Bull junior stepping up to a full F2 season in 2026 with Campos

• Gabriele Minì (Italy, b. 2005) — FIA Formula 2 · Alpine Academy: Experienced Alpine junior whom the team has openly tasked with fighting for the 2026 F2 title. — Alpine Academy member since 2023; Several F2 wins and podiums since 2024; Continues in F2 for 2026 with MP Motorsport

• Mari Boya (Spain, b. 2005) — FIA Formula 2 · Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy: Spanish F3 front-runner and inaugural Aston Martin academy signing stepping up to F2. — Third in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship with Campos; First driver signed to the Aston Martin driver academy (2025); Graduates to F2 in 2026 with Prema Racing

• Paul Aron (Estonia, b. 2004) — FIA Formula 2 · Alpine Academy: F1-ready Estonian serving as Alpine's reserve while awaiting a grid opening. — Competed at the front of the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship; Alpine Academy member and the team's main F1 reserve driver; Holds the superlicence points required to race in Formula 1

• Martinius Stenshorne (Norway, b. 2006) — FIA Formula 2: Fast Norwegian who has openly targeted the F2 title in his rookie season. — Fifth in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship with two wins; 2023 Formula Regional European runner-up; Full F2 rookie season in 2026 with Rodin Motorsport (former McLaren junior)

• Sebastián Montoya (Colombia, b. 2005) — FIA Formula 2: Second-generation talent building his craft in F2 with a leading team. — Son of two-time Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya; Scored podiums in FIA Formula 3 before graduating to F2; Continues in F2 for 2026 with Prema Racing

• Tuukka Taponen (Finland, b. 2006) — FIA Formula 3 · Ferrari Driver Academy: Ferrari's leading F3 junior and a highly rated long-term academy prospect. — Ferrari Driver Academy member since 2023; 2024 Formula Regional Middle East champion; Three F3 podiums in 2025; continues in F3 for 2026 with MP Motorsport

• Ugo Ugochukwu (United States, b. 2007) — FIA Formula 3: Long-touted American who has found form as an early 2026 F3 title leader after leaving McLaren. — McLaren junior from 2021-2025 with multiple junior titles; Two F3 sprint podiums in 2025 with Prema; Leading the 2026 FIA F3 Championship early with Campos

• James Wharton (Australia, b. 2006) — FIA Formula 3: Race-winning Australian with clear single-seater speed and top-team backing. — Maiden F3 win in the 2025 Spielberg sprint race; F2 debut with Trident in the 2025 Qatar round; Returns to Prema for a second F3 season in 2026 (former Ferrari junior)

• Fionn McLaughlin (Ireland, b. 2007) — FIA Formula 3 · Red Bull Junior Team: Red Bull junior from Northern Ireland making an aggressive leap from F4 champion to F3. — 2025 British F4 champion in his rookie car season, with the Rookie Cup; Red Bull Junior Team member since 2024; Jumps straight to FIA F3 for 2026 with Hitech, skipping Formula Regional

• Alessandro Giusti (France) — FIA Formula 3 · Williams Driver Academy: Williams junior and consistent F3 points-scorer on an upward trajectory. — 2022 French F4 champion; Tenth in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship; Williams Driver Academy member

• Freddie Slater (United Kingdom) — FIA Formula 3 · Audi Driver Development Programme: Serial junior champion and Audi's first F1-project junior, a favourite for the 2026 F3 title. — 2025 Formula Regional European champion with Prema; 2024 Italian F4 and F4 UAE champion; First member of the Audi driver development programme; F3 in 2026 with Trident

• Matteo De Palo (Italy) — FIA Formula 3 · McLaren Driver Development Programme: Italian regional-formula front-runner freshly added to McLaren's stable and moving into F3. — Runner-up in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship; Joined the McLaren driver development programme in late 2025; Steps up to FIA F3 for 2026 with Trident

• Kean Nakamura-Berta (Japan) — Formula Regional European Championship · Williams Driver Academy: Dominant national-F4 champion now on Williams' books and climbing the regional ladder. — 2025 Italian F4 champion with Prema Racing; Williams Driver Academy member (formerly an Alpine junior); Graduates to Formula Regional for 2026

• Rashid Al Dhaheri (United Arab Emirates, b. 2008) — Formula Regional European Championship · Mercedes Junior Programme: Emirati karting prodigy on Mercedes' programme progressing steadily through the regional formulae. — Mercedes junior programme member; Runner-up in Formula Regional Middle East 2026; Racing in the Formula Regional European Championship in 2026

• Christian Costoya (Spain) — Italian F4 Championship · McLaren Driver Development Programme: Highly rated karting graduate stepping into car racing under McLaren's wing. — McLaren driver development programme member; Multiple international karting titles; Graduates to F4 in 2026 (Italian F4, Euro 4 and F4 Middle East)

• Dries Van Langendonck (Belgium) — British F4 Championship · McLaren Driver Development Programme: Belgian McLaren junior transitioning from karting with early single-seater silverware. — McLaren driver development programme member; 2026 Formula Winter Series champion; Full British F4 campaign in 2026

• Ethan Jeff-Hall (United Kingdom) — British F4 Championship · Mercedes Junior Programme: World-champion karter and Mercedes junior making his mark in British F4. — 2024 FIA Karting OK world champion; Mercedes junior programme member; Fifth in the 2025 British F4 Championship with a win; continues in 2026

• Kenzo Craigie (United Kingdom) — Italian F4 Championship · Mercedes Junior Programme: Another world-title karter in Mercedes' pipeline moving into single-seaters. — 2024 FIA Karting OK-Junior world champion; Mercedes junior programme member; Steps up to Italian F4 and Euro 4 for 2026

• Salim Hanna (Colombia) — Italian F4 Championship: Colombian rookie who topped the newcomers in a strong Prema line-up. — 2025 Italian F4 Rookie champion with Prema Racing; Fourth overall in the 2025 Italian F4 Championship

• Thomas Strauven (Belgium) — F4 Spanish Championship: Belgian who swept a Spanish F4 and Eurocup-4 double in a dominant 2025. — 2025 F4 Spanish champion with Campos, clinched with five races to spare; 2025 Eurocup-4 winter champion

• Enzo Deligny (France) — Formula Regional European Championship: French regional-formula podium regular worth tracking as he matures. — Third overall in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship; Continues in Formula Regional for 2026 with Prema Racing

• Doriane Pin (France, b. 2004) — F1 Academy · Mercedes Junior Programme: The dominant F1 Academy champion and Mercedes' most advanced female prospect. — 2025 F1 Academy champion with Prema; Named a Mercedes F1 development driver for 2026; Race-winning sportscar experience with Iron Dames

• Alba Larsen (Denmark) — F1 Academy · Ferrari Driver Academy: Danish talent chosen as Ferrari's female single-seater project for 2026. — Ferrari Driver Academy member (joined 2025); Ferrari's F1 Academy entry for 2026 with MP Motorsport

• Ella Lloyd (United Kingdom) — F1 Academy · McLaren Driver Development Programme: McLaren's F1 Academy representative and one of Britain's leading female juniors. — McLaren-supported F1 Academy driver; Welsh racer competing in the all-female series

• Nina Gademan (Netherlands) — F1 Academy · Alpine Academy: Dutch Alpine junior who took a home win in F1 Academy and returns for 2026. — Alpine-backed F1 Academy driver; Maiden F1 Academy win at Zandvoort in 2025; Sixth in the 2025 F1 Academy standings

• Dennis Hauger (Norway, b. 2003) — Indy NXT: Former F3 champion who dominated Indy NXT and steps up to IndyCar in 2026. — 2025 Indy NXT champion and Rookie of the Year with Andretti (six wins); 2021 FIA Formula 3 champion; Promoted to the NTT IndyCar Series for 2026 with Dale Coyne Racing

• Lochie Hughes (Australia) — Indy NXT: Australian Andretti driver among the front-runners on the US single-seater ladder. — Third in the 2025 Indy NXT Championship with Andretti Global

• Caio Collet (Brazil, b. 2002) — Indy NXT: Brazilian former Alpine junior now a consistent Indy NXT title contender. — Runner-up in the 2025 Indy NXT Championship; 2024 Indy NXT Rookie of the Year; Multiple Indy NXT race wins

• Noah Strømsted (Denmark) — FIA Formula 3: Consistent Danish F3 front-runner and one to watch as he targets a move up. — Sixth overall in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship

Karting

• Noah Baglin (United Kingdom) — Karting · Ferrari Driver Academy: Reigning junior world karting champion and Ferrari's newest karting recruit. — 2025 FIA Karting OK-Junior world champion; Ferrari Driver Academy member; Continues in karting for 2026

• Thibaut Ramaekers (Belgium) — Karting: Senior world karting champion widely expected to graduate to single-seaters. — 2025 FIA Karting World champion in the senior OK category; First Belgian OK world champion in 50 years

• Filippo Sala (Italy) — Karting · Ferrari Driver Academy: Italian Ferrari junior and karting standout being developed by the academy. — Ferrari Driver Academy member (joined 2025); Multiple international karting titles; Races in KZ2 gearbox karting in 2026

• Scott Lindblom (Sweden, b. 2010) — Karting · Red Bull Junior Team: Young Swedish Red Bull junior earmarked as a long-term prospect. — Joined the Red Bull Junior Team via the 2024 driver search; Leading karting talent still too young for FIA F4 in 2025

• Chiara Bättig (Switzerland) — Karting · Red Bull Junior Team: One of the few female drivers on Red Bull's junior roster, rising through karting. — Swiss karting champion; Added to the Red Bull Junior Team in 2025

• Harry Williams (United Kingdom) — Karting · McLaren Driver Development Programme: An unusually early McLaren signing being developed from the karting grassroots up. — McLaren's youngest-ever development signing (age 11, in 2026); Race-winning British karter

• Dean Hoogendoorn (Netherlands) — Karting · Williams Driver Academy: Dutch karting title-winner recruited into the Williams academy. — 2025 FIA Karting European Junior champion; WSK Super Master Series OK-Junior champion; Williams Driver Academy member

Stock

• Connor Zilisch (United States, b. 2006) — NASCAR Xfinity Series: Widely called NASCAR's brightest prospect in a generation, promoted straight to Cup for 2026. — Ten wins and Rookie of the Year in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series; Runner-up in the 2025 Xfinity championship; 2025 NMPA Driver of the Year; steps up to NASCAR Cup for 2026 with Trackhouse

• Corey Heim (United States, b. 2002) — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series · Toyota Racing Development: The most dominant driver in the Truck Series, primed for a full NASCAR Cup step. — 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion; A single-season record 12 Truck wins in 2025; Toyota development driver with select Cup starts lined up

• William Sawalich (United States, b. 2007) — NASCAR Xfinity Series · Toyota Racing Development: Toyota's headline stock-car prospect learning the Xfinity ranks at Joe Gibbs Racing. — Two-time ARCA Menards Series East champion (2023, 2024); Toyota development driver with Joe Gibbs Racing; Full-time NASCAR Xfinity rookie in 2025 with two runner-up finishes

Rally

• Mille Johansson (Sweden) — Junior WRC: Swedish rally junior who won the FIA's junior WRC title and its step-up prize. — 2025 Junior WRC champion, clinched on the final round; Earns an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 prize drive package for 2026