18 July 2026 08:00 (UTC)
Two years on from signing with the team in Belgium, Dries sits down to discuss his progress in the Driver Development Programme
Read time: 5 minutes
Seven years after appearing as a Grid Kid at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix, Dries Van Langendonck is back at his home race in a very different capacity.
As part of his role in the McLaren Driver Development Programme, the young Belgian is gaining hands-on experience with the race team in the paddock on Friday. Dries spent FP1 and FP2 with us in the garage, offering him a unique window into how the team operates during a Grand Prix. From how data is analysed and the key areas the team focuses on, to observing how the drivers and the team communicate and the language they use.
“It’s great to be with the McLaren team here in Spa,” he says, following FP2. “I was in the garage for FP1 and FP2, so I learned a lot listening in to the radio, seeing how the team operated and overall enjoying the experience. It’s always special to be at a Formula 1 event, so I always want to make the most of the opportunity and take away as much as I can from the weekend.
“And it’s very special to be here at my home Grand Prix. Seeing all the fans and experiencing the support from the Belgian crowd is incredible. Spa is one of my favourite circuits, and the atmosphere here is always amazing. Hopefully, one day I’ll have the chance to race here myself.
“One of my favourite memories was being a Grid Kid at the Belgian Grand Prix in 2019. I remember standing on the grid with Sebastian Vettel just behind me, which was an unforgettable experience. That’s definitely a memory that will stay with me forever.”
Dries has enjoyed a superb 2026 season so far. He currently leads the British Formula 4 Championship with four wins from 15 races, holding a 47-point advantage over second place. The Belgian only stepped up from karts less than a year ago, making his British F4 debut at Donington on his 15th birthday - the minimum age required to compete – but immediately impressed. Despite his inexperience, he claimed Pole position for Race 3 and secured a victory in his very first round.
He has since gone from strength to strength. Prior to starting his first full British F4 campaign, Dries dominated the Formula Winter Series, winning nine of its 15 races - including the final five - to finish a huge 149 points ahead of his nearest rival.
Despite these exciting first steps in single-seaters, he and the team remain realistic about his development and are working hard together to ensure his progress continues this upward trend.
“Overall, I think it’s been a positive season,” he says. “We’re now at the halfway point of the British F4 season, and I’m leading the Championship, which is encouraging. There have been a few rounds where we maybe didn’t maximise every opportunity, but that’s something we continue to work on and have pushed through. At the same time, the development has been really strong, and I’m hoping to carry the momentum from the last round in Zandvoort into the second half of the year.
“Winning the Formula Winter Series was a great achievement, and there have been a number of memorable moments this season. One highlight was taking a victory at Aragon with an overtake on the final corner, which was a particularly satisfying way to win. Another standout moment was racing at Zandvoort, which feels like the closest thing to a home Grand Prix for me with the circuits I am racing at this season. The atmosphere there was incredible, and it was fantastic to see so many fans supporting me."
Being in Belgium with McLaren marks a full-circle moment for Dries. It was here in Spa two years ago that the 2023 World Junior Karting Champion originally signed to the McLaren Driver Development Programme.
Since then, he has become fully embedded within the Driver Development Programme. As part of this, he receives extensive support on race weekends and is a regular visitor to the McLaren Technology Centre.
This includes training from Warren Hughes, a highly regarded driver coach who leads the programme's day-to-day delivery. Warren analyses and provides feedback on all of Dries’ sessions and tests and played a crucial role in his transition from karts to formula racing.
“Being part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme means a huge amount to me,” he says. “The programme provides incredible support and gives me the opportunity to learn from experienced people every day. They help me in all areas, and Warren is with me at every event, which has been so valuable.
“The team, especially Warren, has played a massive role in my development, particularly in the early stages of my Formula 4 career. When I first stepped into F4 there were a lot of habits and areas that needed cleaning up, and Warren helped me with that from the start. Him and the whole team are pushing me to become the best driver I can be.
“As well as the driving aspects, the team have been really helpful with the wider parts of being a driver. They’ve helped with the media side of things as well as partnerships other training. More generally spending time with the wider team and learning about different aspects of the sport has been really valuable and has helped me develop both on and off the track.”
In addition to the support he receives from McLaren, it was announced this week that the 15-year-old had joined Verstappen Racing, following his impressive start to the year. Alongside McLaren, Max Verstappen and his management team will provide further support as he continues to climb the junior formula ladder.
“Verstappen Racing provides another layer of support and backing alongside McLaren, which will be very valuable,” he says. “It gives me access to additional resources and opportunities to continue developing as a driver, including extra simulator time at Max’s simulator facility. Having support from both McLaren and Verstappen Racing means I can focus on improving every aspect of my performance and becoming the best driver possible.”
Following this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, it’s back to business for Dries, who will return to the British F4 fold for the sixth round of their season, at Thruxton on 25 – 26 July, looking to extend his lead at the top of the Drivers’ standings. However, his experiences at Spa with the team will have offered him a tantalising taste of what life could look like if he were to achieve his ultimate goal.
“My goal is to win the British F4 Championship. That's what I'm focused on and working towards every day.” He says. “Ultimately, my goal is to race in Formula 1 and obviously become a Formula 1 World Champion. There's still a long way to go and a lot of hard work ahead, but I believe that's possible with McLaren and their support. If I continue to develop, work hard and make the most of every opportunity, hopefully all the pieces will come together.”
