Team 2021: Hitech Grand Prix, F2
Team 2026: Alfa Romeo, F1
Calum Ilott already has a foothold in the Elite series
© Getty Images
Ferrari Academy driver Callum is an easy pick as he already has one foot in the Elite Series as he drove in FP1 for Alfa Romeo this season. As a test driver for Ferrari and reserve for Alfa, who finished second behind Mick Schumacher in Formula 2, it seems more a question of when and not whether Ilott will get into Formula 1. The only obstacle on his way are the many other British drivers who are already on the grid – while Lewis Hamilton is sure to hang up his gloves by 2026, George Russell and Lando Norris will not leave. But we are sure he will have a place at Alfa Romeo by 2026, although he may already be the first Briton since Nigel ‘Il Leone’ Mansell to drive for Ferrari.
Team 2021: Prema Racing, F3
Arthur could soon compete in Formula 1 with his older brother Charles
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In Formula 1 you always need brothers who swap colors, and we haven’t seen any brotherly rivals in Formula 1 since Michael and Ralph Schumacher. Arthur Leclerc, another member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, may raise a few eyebrows as he has only just entered Formula 3 as runner-up in the new Formula Regional series. There may be stronger candidates elsewhere, but Arthur already has a brother at Ferrari and has an impressive pedigree.
Team 2021: Prema Racing, F2
Robert Shwartzmann shines on the track and on social media
© Getty Images
The Russian has been a front runner in every series he has participated in and looks unstoppable when driving tracks for Formula 1. He is part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and has achieved great success with Prema Racing. He finished third in Formula 3 in his rookie season before dominating the 2019 championship to take the title. He finished fourth in his first season in Formula 2 last year and scored more wins than any other driver.
He also has the 2018 Toyota Racing Series title in his trophy cabinet. Additionally, Shwartzman is a social media star, drawing thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok with his sense of humor and clean looks – making him both marketable and fast.
Team 2021: Hitech Grand Prix, F2
Team 2026: Scuderia AlphaTauri, F1
The New Zealander has proven he has talent over the past few years
© Red Bull content pool
On the other side of the hitech garage is another top notch talent. Liam Lawson got his F2 career off to the best possible start by winning his debut in the first sprint race of 2021. He is the 2019 Toyota Racing Series champion and narrowly missed the 2020 title. Liam faces tough competition with Yüri Vips for a place at AlphaTauri or Red Bull Racing – assuming there will be a place available at both – but talent is rising to the top and Lawson is certainly a noticeable driver.
2021 team: Preme Racing, Formula 2
Team 2026: Alpine, Formula 1
The Australian Oscar Piastri could drive in Formula 1 for Alpine in 2026
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Another Prema rider, the Australian Piastri, has seen a meteoric rise in the junior series and has been thrown through the pack as if his DRS was constantly open. He was runner-up in British Formula 4 before winning the Renault Eurocup and Formula 3 titles in consecutive championships.
Team 2021: Hitech Grand Prix, F2
Team 2026: Red Bull Racing, F1
Jüri Vips is not only fast, but also smart
© Dutch photo agency
In recent years, Marko Asmer and Markko Martin have been digging for new talent in their homeland with the Estonian Autosport Union, taking care of rally world champion Ott Tänak, Prema team manager Ralf Aron and his brother Paul. Vips is the newest, and he’s not only fast, versatile, and talented, but also highly intelligent – as an eight-year-old he appeared on Estonia’s Got Talent as the “human calculator” on television and performed incredible arithmetic feats.
Team 2021 (Enzo): Charouz Racing System, Formula 3
2026 team (choose): Haas, Formula 1
Pietro Fittipaldis is currently still doing his laps in the IndyCar series
© Motorsport Pictures
The Fittipaldis are the Kardashians of F1. Rich, glamorous, handsome and successful – and there are a lot more of them than you could ever imagine. After two generations of Fittipaldis racing, it seems like another fast, young Fittipaldi is jumping into a cockpit everywhere.
Enzo Fittipaldis was the Italian F4 champion in 2018
© Getty Images
If you are not in F2 or F3, you are in the garage as a test driver or back in the factory in the Sim. In five years there will be a Fittipaldi at the start. At the top are Pietro and Enzo Fittipaldi, grandsons of two-time F1 world champion and two-time Indy 500 winner Emerson. Pietro has tested for Haas in F1 and has driven in F2, WEC, DTM and Super Formula. Right now he’s spinning around in Indycar. Enzo is the 2018 Italian F4 champion, starting his second season in F3 in 2021, also joining IndyCar Pro, the Indy feeder series.
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