The revered McLaren junior program’s latest addition, Harry Williams, has made history by becoming their youngest signing at just 11 years old.
The British 2025 British Open karting champion will join the program that has led many alumni to great heights in F1, such as Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.
The greatest driver to come out of the junior program is none other than Lewis Hamilton, who was signed at just 13 years old in 1998, going on to become a seven-time world champion in F1.
Producing another world champion, the program also nurtured current McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris, who signed at 17 years old.
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Williams’ signing
Before he joined the program on Thursday, Ella Hakkinen, daughter of F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen, was the youngest in the program at 14 years old.
Alessandro Alunni Bravo, the lead of the program, said of Williams’ signing on Sky Sports: “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.
“For this driver, I think there is no target, no pressure other than enjoy karting to get maximum experience, but also to understand – what does it mean to be a McLaren driver.”
Williams, who started karting in 2021, released his own statement saying: “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,” he said.
This new addition to McLaren’s extensive driver program illustrates the team’s commitment to supporting and nurturing young talent during their rise through the ranks of motorsport.
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SportJustSport writers 
Liberty Nicholson-Hulse