2023 World Junior Karting Champion Dries Van Langendonck joined the McLaren Driver Development programme in July 2024.

Born in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, Dries began karting at the age of eight. His potential shone through from an early age as he became the NK Rookie Champion just a year later, in 2019, and the Mini 60 Dutch Champion in 2020. The trophies continued, pricking the ears of the McLaren Driver Development programme, and in 2023, he was crowned world karting champion in the OK Junior class, which saw McLaren sign him as a Development Driver.

The team’s faith was repaid as he followed this up with another four title wins, including the European Karting Championship in the OK Junior Class and the WSK Super Masters Series.

Dries’ continued growth and on-track success convinced the team that he deserved a chance in a single-seater. He made his debut in Round 8 of the 2025 British Formula 4 season with Rodin at Donington. He got off to a dream start, clinching Pole for Race 3, which he converted into a victory at the first round of asking.

Dries competed in the final three rounds of the season and, for 2026, has formally graduated into single-seaters, competing in the British Formula 4 Championship and the Formula Winter Series with Rodin Motorsport.