Aston Martin F1 welcomes two young talents, Ava Lawrence and Roland Nagy, to its Driver Academy programme. The expansion of the academy lineup reflects the team’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of motorsport stars. Both Lawrence and Nagy, currently competing in karting, join Aston Martin’s Driver Academy alongside existing members Mari Boya and Mathilda Paatz, who currently race in Formula 2 and F1 Academy, respectively.
Lawrence: A prodigy making history
At 11 years-old, Lawrence has already claimed podiums across several categories, including Rotax, IAME and FIA-aligned categories. The Australian-born racer, who competes under an Emirati licence, has repeatedly made history in her short but yet successful career so far, showcasing her exceptional talent and potential. She was crowned the first female MENA Cup Champion, the first female winner of a Mini race in ROK Cup Italy and the first female to finish on the podium in the Mini class of the COTFA International Series. In 2026, the 11 year-old races in the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive as a karter in the OK-N Junior Class of the British Champions of the Future Academy Program.
Sharing her excitement about joining the Aston Martin Driver Academy lineup, Lawrence said: “I’m really excited to join the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy. It’s going to be such a huge step to help me improve my driving and become even better on track. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone on the team and learning from them.”
“Getting to visit the AMR Technology Campus for my announcement was so cool. My favourite part of the day was seeing the different materials they use on the Formula One cars and actually getting to touch parts of the car. It was so interesting to see how it’s all made!”
Lawrence joins current F1 Academy driver Mathilda Paatz at the team and becomes the second F1 Academy Discover Your Driver karter to land a spot in an F1 Driver Development programme.
Nagy: Hungary’s most promising motorsport talent
The 13 year-old has quickly established himself as rising talent in the international karting scene. The Hungarian karter has competed in various top-tier series, including the FIA Karting European Championship and WSK Super Master Series. He has showcased his speed and talent through notable wins, such as his heat victory at the first round of the Champions of the Future Euro Series at La Conca, and consistency, underlining him as one of Hungary’s most promising talents right now.
“I’m really pleased to be a part of the Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy. The team will be giving me a lot of support, which will be really important for my career, and I’m excited to learn as much as I can from everyone I meet inside the team.”
“It was really cool to visit the Technology Campus. I really liked how it looks, both outside and inside – it’s very futuristic. My favourite part was seeing how the cars are made. It’s amazing seeing Formula One cars up close and what they look like on the inside.”
Exciting additions to Aston Martin’s Driver Academy
Welcoming Lawrence and Nagy to the team, Racing Director of Aston Martin’s Driver Academy Nuno Pinto said: “Bringing in talent at a junior level is an important part of our strategy, and Ava and Roland are excellent examples of the calibre of young driver that we want to bring in the programme. Both drivers have already shown impressive potential on the international stage, with strong performances in highly competitive categories.”
“Having the opportunity to contribute to a driver’s development from such an early stage is incredibly important, allowing us to help shape their progression both on and off the track as they continue to grow in the sport.”
