McLaren Signs 11-Year-Old Harry Williams as Youngest-Ever Academy Recruit

The move underscores a long-term pipeline that starts in karting.

Overview

McLaren has added 11-year-old 2025 British Open karting champion Harry Williams to its Driver Development Programme.
He is McLaren’s youngest-ever programme recruit, two years younger than Lewis Hamilton was when he joined at 13, according to Crash.
Chief business affairs officer Alessandro Alunni Bravi praised Williams as a “fantastic karter” and said the Academy feeds future seats in Formula 1, IndyCar and the World Endurance Championship.
Williams will keep racing in karting this season in the WSK Super Master Series (OK-Junior), WSK Euro Series, Champions of the Future and the FIA Karting Championships, which are top international events for young drivers.
McLaren has framed early picks like Williams as part of its search for “the next Lando Norris” following Norris’s title last season.