Rising Starts To Watch Out For In the The Junior Series

Who will be the next big name in motorsport? Here are some rising stars in junior series who could claim that title in the coming years.

The Next Generation of Rising Stars in Junior Series

Junior series are the backbone of the great drivers we see across all motorsport disciplines.

Even legends like Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna developed their skills in feeder championships, where they learned to improve their driving style, identify their strengths, and master the art of overtaking.

Talented drivers are often discovered at a young age, and it is a source of pride for teams and individuals to support their growth.

For the next generation of potential future stars, there are some names to monitor closely in the junior categories. It may not be long until we see one (or more) of them on the Formula 1 grid.

Freddie Slater

Freddie Slater has been the center of attention in junior series since his full campaign in the Italian Formula 4 Championship last year.

Driving with PREMA Racing, he defeated the rest of the grid, winning 15 of the 21 races in the calendar and clinching the championship one round early before the finale in Monza.

His remarkable performance was reminiscent of Andrea Kimi Antonelli‘s, as Slater broke the record for the most wins in the series previously held by the Italian.

With this momentum, he was promoted to Formula Regionale European Championship by Alpine, always racing with the Italian team.

This year, he had a taste of racing in a Formula Regional car during the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, where he fought for the title against Evan Giltaire but ultimately finished second.

In 2025, he will also race in GB3 with Hillspeed. Freddie Slater is a driver to follow in the coming years, having showcased being fast on multiple occasions while his opponents failed to reach him.

Alex Powell

American-Jamaican driver Alex Powell had an impressive career in karts, which quickly caught the attention of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team.

He has been part of their academy since 2019, and they supported him during his single-seater debut in 2023, leading to his full season in Italian Formula 4 last year.

There were high expectations for Powell in 2024, however, he faced a lot of difficulties throughout the year, as he tried to catch up with his teammate Freddie Slater and get on speed quickly. As a result, he managed to secure only one win in Euro 4.

Powell’s skills seemed to shine in a new environment with R-ace GP and in a different championship. In F4 Middle East, he expressed almost his entire potential and collected five wins, which allowed him to end the series as vice-champion.

He will continue with the French team for a second season in Italian Formula 4, where he hopes to leverage the experience he gained last year to reach his full potential on the track.

Powell will share the garage with Emanuele Olivieri, 2025 F4 Middle East Champion, who made a strong impression at the beginning of the year and could be a fierce contender for the title.

Ugo Ugochukwu

From British F4 and GB3 to FIA Formula 3, Ugo Ugochukwu has raced with different cars and teams.

In 2021, he signed a deal with the McLaren Driver Development Programme even before competing in a single-seater, which showed that the English team believed in his abilities.

He came close to winning the Italian Formula 4 championship but ultimately finished in second place.

Last year, he moved to FRECA but faced several difficulties adapting to the car, resulting in just one victory. However, this does not overshadow Ugochukwu’s potential as a driver who has consistently demonstrated his ability to compete for podiums and victories, making him a genuine title contender in many series he has participated in.

The young American ended 2024 in the best way possible with the win of the Macau Grand Prix after a chaotic weekend, where he managed to assert himself on the grid. In his rookie season in Formula 3, Ugochukwu aims to prove he is one of the fastest drivers on track.

Louis Sharp

Louis Sharp debuted in a single-seater at just 13 years old and quickly secured a win, along with six podium finishes. From there, he primarily competed in British championships except for the Formula 4 UAE Championship Trophy and his recent campaign in FIA Formula 3.

During his experience in the Middle East circuits, he earned his first award, becoming the youngest driver to achieve this milestone.

He went on to win back-to-back the British Formula 4 and GB3 championships, showing confidence and strong pace.

Sharp has demonstrated exceptional abilities to adapt quickly to new cars and tracks, as evidenced by his rapid progression through British F4, GB3, and now Formula 3. The Kiwi driver is certainly one to watch in this junior series.

Evan Giltaire

The 2025 Formula Regional Middle East Champion is another standout driver to watch this year is Evan Giltaire. He made his debut in single-seater racing just two years ago and won the title in his rookie season of French Formula 4.

An impressive performance from Giltaire earned him the opportunity to move up to a Formula Regional car with ART Grand Prix the following year.

However, last season, he faced challenges that prevented him from scoring points consistently, resulting in a final standing of seventh.

2025, which will mark his second full year in FRECA, started strong with a win in the Middle East championship, where he outperformed Slater through consistent driving.

The French driver has the skills to fight with the front runners, and he will carry with him the lessons learned from the previous series. He could emerge as one of the main title contenders this year in Formula Regional and maybe in higher championships in the future.

Rafael Camara

The Ferrari Driver Academy may not have many names in its rankings, but those that are included are often winners and highly skilled drivers. Among them there is Rafael Camara.

With an impressive racing record, the Brazilian’s worst result in his first year was a fifth-place finish in the Formula Regional European Championship.

Last year, he not only secured the title but also brought that strong performance into his first round of Formula 3.

Camara is surely one of the drivers to keep an eye on in the near future, given the speed and consistency he has shown.

He has shown great pace in both qualifying and races, excelling in wheel-to-wheel battles with a controlled yet aggressive driving style. Ferrari’s support could also play a crucial role in his journey to Formula 1.

Tuukka Taponen

Tuukka Taponen is a promising Finnish driver who represents the new generation of junior talent in motorsports.

He has already achieved impressive results in his career, including winning the Formula Regional Middle East Championship during his first full season driving a Formula Regional car.

He was involved in the FRECA title fight with Rafael Camara until the end, ultimately losing momentum in the final rounds of the season.

His skills, marked by an aggressive style of driving, gave him the possibility to move up to Formula 3 with ART Grand Prix.

Additionally, he has been supported by the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2022.

Arvid Lindblad

Arvid Lindblad has showcased his skills in Formula 4, coming close to winning the title in his rookie season. His performance was impressive, even for the Red Bull junior team, which decided to promote him directly to Formula 3.

In the series, even with some mistakes, he demonstrated great speed and confidence in various conditions. The Englishman could become the next Red Bull superstar if he continues to perform even better than he has so far.

Gabriele Minì

Often under the radar, Gabriele Minì has achieved notable results in his journey through the junior series. He won the Italian Formula 4 championship in his debut season and fought for the title both in Formula Regional and Formula 3.

His talent caught the attention of Alpine, with whom he signed a contract in 2023, and he continues to race as part of their team in Formula 2. Minì has often impressed with his speed and exceptional overtaking skills.

This year in Formula 2, he is one of the main title contenders and is expected to deliver impressive performances on the track.