Brando Badoer

Born on 15 September 2006 in Montebelluna, Italy, Brando is the son of former Formula 1 and Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer. He grew up deeply immersed in motorsport, which sparked his early passion for racing.^[2] After his karting foundation, he drew attention from the Ferrari Driver Academy and was invited to their ACI summer scouting camp, where he trained alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli.^[2]

He is in his final year of high school and manages his studies alongside racing commitments. Outside of racing, he has an interest in the stock market and follows financial topics. He also trains in high-performance KZ karts between race events.^[3]

Badoer began competing in WSK events in 2017 with Baby Race.^[4] In 2018, he stayed in 60 Mini but switched teams to Parolin, finishing second in the WSK Open Cup, third in the WSK Champions Cup, and fourth in the WSK Final Cup.^[5][6][7] For 2019 and 2020, he competed in OK-Junior, finishing third overall in the 2020 WSK Super Master Series and second in the WSK Euro Series the same year.^[8][9] He then spent 2021 in the OK and KZ2 classes, but struggled to produce the same results, a highlight being an OK-class podium in the opening round of the WSK Euro Series.^[10]

Badoer made his single-seater debut in the 2022 Formula 4 UAE Championship with AKM Motorsport.^[11] He failed to score any points and placed 28th in the standings.

For his main campaign, Badoer would race in the Italian F4 Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing.^[12] He had a difficult first half of the season, failing to score points but broke through with a fifth place in Spielberg, and score a few more points that season to end 16th in the standings.^[13] The Italian also competed as a guest driver in ADAC Formula 4 in two rounds.^[14]

In September 2022, Badoer was chosen to participate in a scouting camp conducted by the Ferrari Driver Academy.^[15]

Badoer raced in the 2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship with Pinnacle VAR during pre-season.^[16] He took his maiden single-seater podium with third at the Dubai Autodrome.^[17] Despite not being present in two of five rounds of the championship, Badoer was sixth in the overall standings.

Badoer remained with Van Amersfoort Racing in Italian F4.^[18] His season would be much more improved that the year before, starting out with a second place in Imola.^[19] He scored four more podiums throughout the season with consistent points finishes, including a pole position in Monza.^[20] This placed him sixth in the championship standings.^[21]

Badoer also competed with Van Amersfoort Racing in the inaugural Euro 4 Championship.^[22] He took three podiums over the nine races, once again finishing sixth in the overall standings.^[23]

During pre-season, Badoer would compete in the 2024 Formula Regional Middle East Championship with PHM AIX Racing.^[24] He achieved three podiums, putting him tenth in the standings.

Badoer would move up to the Formula Regional European Championship, continuing with Van Amersfoort Racing.^[25] Badoer had a strong start to his campaign with fourth and fifth place in the Hockenheim opener,^[26] and soon took his first podium with second place in Zandvoort.^[27] This was a start of five consecutive second places, which included a maiden pole position in Mugello.^[28][29] In the remaining four rounds, Badoer collected only one more podium in Austria, and failed to score in the last three races.^[30] Despite placing as the highest winless driver in the standings, Badoer managed to finish fifth in the championship with six podiums and 174 points.

In preparation for his 2025 Formula 3 campaign, Badoer returned to the Formula Regional Middle East Championship with PHM Racing.^[31] He took his maiden Formula Regional victory in the second of the Yas Marina rounds, winning the reverse-grid race two.^[32] With three further podiums, he finished fourth in the overall standings.^[33]

In October 2024, Badoer was announced to be competing for Prema Racing in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship alongside Noel León and Ugo Ugochukwu.^[34] The beginning of the season was difficult, with Badoer failing to score in the first two rounds.^[35]

In October 2023, Badoer was made an optioned driver of the McLaren Driver Development Programme for the duration of one year.^[36][37][38] This option was later exercised in October 2024 seeing him join the McLaren Driver Development Programme.^[39]

^* Season still in progress.

^† As Badoer was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

^† As Badoer was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

* Season still in progress.