By: We recently covered the FDA and the drivers it has signed ahead of the 2027 season (read here). We thought this was a good opportunity to review what the Ferrari Driver Academy has achieved in its 17 years of operation.
Founded in 2009, Ferrari’s academy programme has produced just eight Formula 1 drivers. That total also includes Rafael Camara, the current leader of the F2 championship standings, who is set to join Haas in 2027.
Bianchi, the first talent from Ferrari’s academy
Jules Bianchi was the first of its talents to reach F1, driving for Marussia. The Frenchman was also the first driver to sign a contract with the FDA. Sadly, his 2014 accident in Japan extinguished every hope surrounding him. He would certainly have been a great driver. Perhaps the most talented alongside Charles Leclerc.
Zero titles: a ruthless comparison with Red Bull’s programme
Alongside Jules Bianchi and Leclerc, the FDA has also helped six other drivers take their first steps in motorsport’s top category: Sergio Perez—whose best result was second in the 2023 world championship as Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate—Lance Stroll, Mick Schumacher, Zhou Guanyu, Oliver Bearman—one of the FDA’s most promising current drivers alongside Leclerc—and newly promoted Rafael Camara.
Eight drivers in 17 years and no world titles. However much Red Bull’s academy may be criticised, its programme has so far produced eight world titles between Vettel and Verstappen. Light-years ahead of any other academy, Mercedes included. Charles Leclerc remains the most talented driver ever to emerge from the programme and the one in whom Ferrari places its greatest hopes. All of this, of course, without knowing what Jules might have achieved.
Photo: Ferrari
