Arthur Leclerc will not be following in his brother Charles Leclerc's footsteps to Formula 1 after he was dropped by the Ferrari Driver Academy as Jock Clear is appointed head of the team's junior programme.
The Italian team confirmed that Marco Matassa, who has "headed up the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) since 2018, is moving on to new pastures. He hands over the reins to Jock Clear, a very experienced Formula 1 engineer, who has already played his part in helping the youngsters with advice and support."
Clear was a driver coach for Charles Leclerc and has worked with several F1 teams as well as top drivers in the sport. It is not known if the axing of Leclerc is related to the Englishman's appointment as head of the FDA.
The Ferrari report added: "Arthur Leclerc will leave the programme, the Monegasque remaining part of the Ferrari family" and confirmed that James Warton is also set to depart. Leclerc finished 15th in the 2023 Formula 2 Championship.
The end-of-season report card released by the Maranello team added: "For the Ferrari Driver Academy, 2023 was a preparatory year, given that the Maranello marque’s young driver programme featured two rookies in the shape of Aurelia Nobels and Tuukka Taponen.
"Five of the remaining six drivers had moved up from a more junior category. It was therefore unlikely that the season would deliver many championship titles, in fact there was only one, the UAE Formula 4 championship.
Formula 2: Oliver Bearman outstanding, Leclerc had a tougher time
"At only 18 years of age, the Englishman made his mark in Formula 2, taking three Feature Race wins, a feat matched only by the far more experienced Jack Doohan, while in Baku he made a clean sweep of it, also winning the Sprint Race.
"As is often the case with rookies, there were lows to match the highs, but there is no doubt that the youngster, who finished sixth in the championship is truly talented.
"He proved that when he drove the Ferrari-powered Haas VF-23 in free practice at the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix. Arthur Leclerc had a tougher time of it, with just the one podium finish in Melbourne."
Formula 3: Beganovic finished on the podium four times on his debut season
"Dino Beganovic, from Sweden, had an interesting start to the season, with a third place in the opening round in Bahrain, then a second in Monaco and another third in Barcelona. Then, his engine failed in qualifying at Silverstone, so there were no points scored that weekend and, apart from a second place at the Hungaroring, the season took a downward turn. Dino is expected to be a title contender next year.
"Formula Regional. It’s the same situation for Rafael Camara who, in his maiden European Formula Regional year took two wins at Spa-Francorchamps and Spielberg, while being a regular front runner. He also stays on for another year, aiming for the title. Maya Weug also had a great season, as a regular top-ten finisher, scoring all 27 of her team’s championship points."
Formula 4: Aurelia Nobels who came out on top in the FIA Girls on Track
"Australia’s James Wharton was the only Ferrari Driver Academy student to race in a category for a second year. Alongside him were two rookies, Tuukka Taponen, the winner of the 2022 FDA Scouting World Finals and Aurelia Nobels who came out on top in the FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme last year.
"The Finn took a win in the Italian championship, along with four victories in the United Arab Emirate Series, with a total of 19 podium finishes. The Brazilian youngster’s year got off to a good start as she came close to the points several times but then she was injured in an unfortunate incident in the pit lane in Misano.
"That made the rest of her year more difficult, but she is expected to step up for 2024. Wharton finished fourth in the Italian series, second in the new Euro 4 championship and was UAE Formula 4 champion, just pipping Taponen to the title.
Looking ahead to 2024. Looking to next season, it has to be seen as a year in which all the hard work in 2023 will bear fruit. Oliver Bearman will be back in Formula 2, Dino Beganovic and Rafael Camara will again line up in Formula 3 and Formula Regional respectively, the Brazilian having Tuukka Taponen for company as the Finn moves up a category.
"The girls will tackle a season in the F1 Academy. Of the eight drivers on the school roster this year, six stay on for 2024," concluded the FDA 'report card' for 2023.
Latest News
Loading
