Arthur Leclerc will be leaving the Ferrari Driver Academy as part of a number of changes to the development program set for 2024.
Arthur Leclerc, the younger brother of Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc, will be leaving the FDA amid a number of changes to the Ferrari Driver Academy’s development program for 2024.
Leclerc joined Ferrari as a junior in 2020 and has since won the Formula Regional Asia championship, finished second in the Formula Regional European Championship, won an FIA Formula 3 race, and most recently finished on the podium in the Formula 2 championship.
Leclerc will leave Ferrari’s academy, but he will still be associated with the Maranello outfit, indicating that the manufacturer will still provide the 23-year-old with guidance and support.
“We would like to thank Arthur Leclerc as he moves on from the FDA,” Ferrari said. “Arthur will remain part of the Ferrari family and we’re excited to see his next journey.”
James Wharton, the winner of the first-ever Ferrari Driver Academy Scouting World Final in 2020, will also leave the academy along with Leclerc. Wharton’s achievements include winning the F4 UAE championship and placing fourth in the 2023 Italian Formula 4.
Oliver Bearman, who stepped up from Formula 3 alongside Leclerc this year is set to remain at FDA after a successful season, finishing sixth in the standings after winning four races. He was described by the team as the FDA’s shining star of 2023. Bearman also made his F1 debut with Ferrari and participated in test and practice runs with Haas.
Dino Beganovic, who placed sixth in his Formula 3 debut season will continue to be a member of the FDA. According to Ferrari, he should be a title contender next year.
The six-driver FDA team for 2024 is rounded out Rafael Camara and Maya Weug in Formula Regional, as well as Tuukka Taponen and Aurelia Nobels in Formula 4. Camara was picked as the third driver by the team as it intends to contend for a title after he finished fifth in the European Formula Regional series.
Taponen finished fifth in the Italian Formula 4 series just behind Wharton. Nobels’ season ended prematurely when she was forced to miss the next round at Spa-Francorchamps due to an injury she sustained in an incident in the pit lane during the series’ Misano round.
Additionally, Jock Clear will be installed as the new head of the FDA once Marco Matassa, who has been in charge of the academy since 2018 steps down. Having worked as Ferrari Driver Coach since joining the team in 2015, Clear is a seasoned F1 veteran who brings a plethora of knowledge to the new role.
He originally got involved in Formula 1 in 1989 after joining Benetton. Throughout his career, he has worked as an engineer for Rubens Barrichello at Brawn GP and Jacques Villeneuve at Williams.
Clear’s F1 background also includes working with Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher as their performance engineer at Mercedes prior to switching to Ferrari.
The Ferrari Driver Academy has undergone changes which are a reflection of the team’s dedication to developing young talent and finding ambitious drivers with the potential to make it to the top echelons of motorsport.
With a fresh leadership team and an emphasis on ongoing development, the academy is well-positioned to carry on its tradition of producing exceptional drivers.
