McLaren sign youngest recruit to Development Programme

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McLaren have announced that British karter Harry Williams has been signed to their Driver Development Programme, making the 11-year-old the youngest-ever recruit. Williams, from Nether Alderley in Cheshire, began his karting career in the Super One Series in 2021 before graduating to the Cadet category in 2022. After signing to Fusion Motorsport later that year, he went on to participate in national and international championships during 2023. In 2024, Williams finished in the top 10 of the Championship in the British IAME Inter Waterswift category whilst also competing in the international karting field. In the year that followed, he became the 2025 British Open Champion, O plate winner in the Italian Waterswift Series and was fifth in the European Waterswift Championship. After switching class to juniors, Williams placed third in the WSK Final Cup in OKN-J. So far in 2026, he has competed in the WSK Super Master Series in the OK-Junior category and will also participate in the WSK Euro Series, Champions of the Future Series and the FIA Karting Championships in the same category. Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Chief Business Affairs Officer at McLaren and leader of the Driver Development Programme, said of Williams’ signing: “We are very pleased to have signed Harry to the McLaren Driver Development Programme. “Harry is a fantastic karter who has impressed on the national and international stage so far, so we are excited to see how he develops as a McLaren driver going forward. “Our goal is to build a consistent pipeline, laddering into our race programmes in F1, IndyCar and the World Endurance Championship for many years to come, and adding Harry as a talented young karter demonstrates this. Welcome to the team, Harry.” Williams added: “I am really excited to join the McLaren Driver Development Programme. They’re known for developing talent, so it’s great to join the team as I continue to progress in karting and into single-seater racing in the future. I look forward to learning from the team, and thank them for this exciting opportunity.” The youngster joins a line-up that also features Christian Costoya, Matteo De Palo, Leonardo Fornaroli, Ella Hakkinen, Ella Lloyd, Pato O’Ward, Gregoire Saucy, Ella Stevens, Dries Van Langendonck and Richard Verschoor. 12 women who’ve raced and tested F1 carsHow Lindblad’s start to life in F1 has unfoldedKomatsu highlights 'important quality' Bearman brings to Haas8 times in-season development catapulted teams up the orderWATCH: F1 drivers play the Generation GameVideoOUR PARTNERSView allDownload the Official F1 AppScheduleDriversNewsTeamsFantasy & GamingCookie PreferencesMoreF1FacebookXInstagramYouTube© 2003-2026 Formula One World Championship Limited