McLaren Racing have confirmed 18 year-old Matteo De Palo as their newest addition to the Driver Development Programme ahead of the 2026 Formula 3 season. After an extremely competitive 2025 season, the Italian became vice-champion in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA). However, set to race with Trident in F3 next year, De Palo’s performances this season showcased the talent and speed that earned him the coveted opportunity with the team he excelled with in 2025.
However, with De Palo joining the programme, several drivers will depart the programme, including Ugo Ugochukwu, Martinius Stenshorne and Brando Badoer. This follows Alex Dunne’s recent announcement of his own exit from the programme as well.
A fast and promising talent
It seems the Woking-based team is looking to rebuild its roster of young emerging talents. In 2025, De Palo delivered an impressive FRECA campaign. The Italian stormed to four wins, three pole positions and seven additional podiums, while achieving several notable milestones for Trident in the series.
In a statement, McLaren Racing’s Chief Business Affairs Officer, Alessandro Alunni Bravi said: “The McLaren Driver Development Programme is pleased to welcome Matteo. He is an exciting young talent who has made great progress over the past seasons, showing adaptability, consistency and growth. We look forward to supporting his development across driving, as well as the wider aspects of being a professional driver, within our programme pathway. We also thank Ugo, Martinius and Brando for their contribution to McLaren and wish them the best for the future.”
Expressing his excitement, De Palo briefly shared what joining the programme means to him: “Joining the McLaren Driver Development Programme is a great honour. The team have a fantastic track record for developing talent, so I am excited to grow across all elements of being a racing driver. Thank you to Zak, Alessandro and the entire McLaren team. I am excited to get out on track in papaya.”
