Brando Badoer joined the McLaren Driver Development programme on a full-time basis, 12 months after the team signed an option on the Italian driver.  

Brando Badoer, born in Montebelluna, Italy, on 15 September 2006, is a talented young racing driver following in the footsteps of his Formula 1 driver father, Luca Badoer. As a result, he was exposed to the world of motorsport from a very young age. Inspired by his father's career and passion for motorsport, Brando developed an interest himself, which soon turned into a promising career. 

Brando began karting and was quickly invited by the Ferrari Driver Academy to take part in their ACI summer scouting camp alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli.  

Quickly rising through the ranks, he began his single-seater career in 2022, competing in the Formula 4 UAE Championship with AKM Motorsport and the Italian Formula 4 series with Van Amersfoort Racing, as well as appearing in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship as a guest driver.   

In 2023, he continued in both the UAE and Italian F4 championships with the Dutch team, scoring five podiums and earning one pole position in the Italian series, including a second-place finish in Imola at the opening round of the season, and again in Monza later that year. This attracted the attention of the McLaren Driver Development programme with Brando signing an option with the team for one year from October 2023.  

During the 2024 pre-season, Brando achieved three podiums in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, before moving up to the Formula Regional European Championship in his current campaign. So far this season, he has achieved seven podiums with five second-place finishes and two third-places.  

In October 2024, McLaren exercised their option on Brando with the Italian joining its talent pipeline on a full-time basis.  

Brando will compete for Prema Racing in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship alongside fellow McLaren Driver Development programme member Ugo Ugochukwu.