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Maxwell Esterson (born October 9, 2002) is an American racing driver and esports driver who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for RLL Team McLaren. He previously competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship for Trident and in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Jenzer Motorsport.

Key Information

Single-seater career

[edit]

Sim racing

[edit]

Esterson started his sim racing career on iRacing at the age of eleven.[1][2] He then went on to become one of the top sim-racers in the world, including finishing in seventh place in the 2019 VRS Pro GT Championship.[3] This string of results quickly showed as he was ranked within the top-35 road course drivers in the world and top-four in the US on the iRacing program.[citation needed] In 2020, he became champion of the Formula Race Promotions iRacing Challenge.[4] He followed this by winning the 2021 Road to Indy TireRack.com eSeries.[5] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Esterson tutored multiple drivers on iRacing, including Scott Dixon and Richard Westbrook.[6]

Karting

[edit]

Esterson started karting when he was almost 16.[7] In 2019 he contested his first partial season in karting at Oakland Valley Race Park, competing with McAleer Racing.[2][8]

Formula Ford

[edit]

2020

[edit]

Esterson made his single-seater racing debut in 2020, competing in the F1600 Championship Series with Team Pelfrey.[2][7] He took one victory and finished the season in fifth.[7][9] He also contested a single race in the F2000 Championship Series at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, which he won, setting at the time the track-record.[10][7] At the end of the year, Esterson made his debut at two of the world's biggest races, the Formula Ford Festival and the Walter Hayes Trophy.[7][8] Running with Low-Dempsey Racing, Esterson qualified second in his heat at the Formula Ford Festival, and finished sixth in the Grand Final.[citation needed]

2021

[edit]

In 2021, Esterson competed in the BRSCC Avon Tyres National Formula Ford Championship for Low Dempsey Racing where he scored two wins and finished third in the Championship.[11][12][13] He then went on to finish second in the 50th Anniversary BRSCC Formula Ford Festival and won the 2021 Walter Hayes Trophy as part of the Team USA Scholarship.[1][14][15][16]

2022

[edit]

Esterson returned to the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy with Ammonite Motorsport in 2022.[17] At the Formula Ford Festival, he took pole by 0.8sec, won his heat, won his semifinal and was on pole for the final. Esterson led every lap of the Final and was then awarded victory as the race was shortened due to torrential weather conditions.[18][19] In the Walter Hayes Trophy, Esterson again qualified on pole, won his heat race, won his semifinal and led every lap of the Grand Final for the second year in a row, finishing first but he was then dropped to fifth after a controversial ruling handed him a 4.5-second penalty for a collision with another driver.[20][7]

GB3 Championship

[edit]

2022

[edit]

In 2022, Esterson progressed to the GB3 Championship, partnering Tommy Smith and Marcos Flack at Douglas Motorsport.[21][22] He started out by taking his first top ten finish in Race 3 at the season opener in Oulton Park, before scoring a pair of fourth places at Silverstone. The third round of the season at Donington Park would prove to be his most successful one, as Esterson achieved his maiden podium in the first race, before winning Race 2 from pole position, thus securing his first win in slicks-and-wings machinery.[23][24] He finished the season in seventh.[7]

2023

[edit]

In 2023, Esterson joined Fortec Motorsports in the GB3 Championship.[10][7] The season started with a series of misfortune, with a multitude of mechanical failures and difficult conditions leading to disappointing finishes in regard to his pace. His qualifying was hampered by a red flag at Spa, followed by a technical failure in race two after a strong drive to fourth.[25] He would again make a strong drive in the reverse grid race, setting the fastest lap of the race and making up twelve places in six laps, only to be taken out at Les Combes.[26] An electrical failure at Snetterton during qualifying meant that he started at the back of the grid for all three races.[27] His woes were exacerbated in the second Silverstone round, where he had two engine failures during free practice, and an underpowered engine for qualifying, despite this, he was able to recover well across the weekend, recovering to tenth and ninth in the first and second races respectively, from 18th on the grid.[28] At the last race in Donington Park, Esterson would score his only podium with a third place in race two.[29] Esterson finished the season in 11th, four places lower than the previous year.[30]

FIA Formula 3

[edit]

At the end of 2022, Esterson took part in the post-season test of the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing.[31]

Esterson driving the Dallara F3 2019 during the 2023 Macau Grand Prix

2023

[edit]

In 2023, Esterson joined Rodin Carlin in the FIA Formula 3 Championship ahead of the round at Silverstone, replacing Hunter Yeany for both that round and Budapest.[32] Esterson finished a highest finish of 18th place in Budapest. He returned to his GB3 duties following that, and was replaced in his seat by Euroformula Open racer Francesco Simonazzi for the final two rounds.[33] He was classified 35th, albeit last in the standings.[34] For the post-season tests, Esterson was fielded in by Jenzer Motorsport.[35][36] Esterson also partook in the Macau Grand Prix with Jenzer.[37]

2024

[edit]
Esterson driving the Dallara F3 2019 during the 2024 Spielberg Formula 3 round

In 2024, Esterson joined FIA Formula 3 on a full-time basis, teaming up with Jenzer Motorsport.[38] During the Sakhir Formula 3 Sprint Race, he qualified an impressive tenth, and was able to stay in the top-ten throughout the whole race, holding off Gabriele Minì for sixth place.[39] Esterson would only claim one more points finish in 2024, taking seventh in the Spa-Francorchamps feature race, but impressed at Silverstone by qualifying second during a wet-weather session.[40][41] He finished 21st in the standings, highest of all Jenzer drivers.[42]

FIA Formula 2 Championship

[edit]

2024

[edit]

At the end of 2024, Esterson was announced to make his Formula 2 debut with Trident for the final two rounds of the season, replacing Richard Verschoor who himself replaced the outgoing Dennis Hauger at MP Motorsport.[43]

2025

[edit]

Esterson continued with Trident for the 2025 Formula 2 season, alongside Sami Meguetounif.[44] Having failed to score points throughout the campaign, Trident and Esterson, along with Meguetounif decided to part ways prior to the Baku round; being replaced by Formula 3 graduates Martinius Stenshorne and Laurens van Hoepen.[45]

Sportscar career

[edit]

Following his Formula 2 exit, it was announced that Esterson would make his sportscar racing debut in the uppermost category of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, driving a Porsche 963 for JDC–Miller MotorSports at Petit Le Mans.[46] Esterson stated that he considered this race a "test" owing to his lack of experience.[47] Esterson was later confirmed to make his debut in the GTD Pro class with RLL Team McLaren at the 2026 24 Hours of Daytona.[48]

Personal life

[edit]

Esterson grew up in New York City going to the Allen-Stevenson School and attended Regis High School, graduating in 2021. His older brother, Hugh, is also a racing driver.[2][7][49][50]

Racing record

[edit]

Career summary

[edit]
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2020 F1600 Championship Series Team Pelfrey[2] 15 1 3 3 4 423 5th
F2000 Championship Series Ubs Financial Services 1 1 0 1 1 52 16th
National FF1600 Championship Low Dempsey Racing 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Formula Ford Festival 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 6th
Walter Hayes Trophy 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 14th
2021 National Formula Ford Championship Low Dempsey Racing 20 2 1 4 13 414 3rd
Formula Ford Festival 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd
Walter Hayes Trophy 1 1 1 0 1 N/A 1st
2022 GB3 Championship Douglas Motorsport 24 1 1 2 3 292.5 7th
Formula Ford Festival Ammonite Motorsport 1 1 1 0 1 N/A 1st
Walter Hayes Trophy 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th
2023 GB3 Championship Fortec Motorsports 23 0 0 1 1 215 11th
FIA Formula 3 Championship Rodin Carlin 4 0 0 0 0 0 35th
Macau Grand Prix Jenzer Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 20th
2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship Jenzer Motorsport 20 0 0 0 0 11 21st
FIA Formula 2 Championship Trident 4 0 0 0 0 0 31st
2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship Trident 21 0 0 0 0 0 23rd
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTP JDC–Miller MotorSports 1 0 0 0 0 209 41st
2026 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro RLL Team McLaren 1 0 0 0 0 222* 12th*

* Season still in progress.

Complete GB3 Championship results

[edit]

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

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2022 Douglas Motorsport OUL
1
19 		OUL
2
11 		OUL
3
81 		SIL1
1
4 		SIL1
2
4 		SIL1
3
105 		DON1
1
3 		DON1
2
1 		DON1
3
117 		SNE
1
10 		SNE
2
10 		SNE
3
75 		SPA
1
4 		SPA
2
3 		SPA
3
173 		SIL2
1
9 		SIL2
2
10 		SIL2
3
Ret 		BRH
1
10 		BRH
2
18 		BRH
3
Ret 		DON2
1
11 		DON2
2
8 		DON2
3
18 		7th 292.5
2023 Fortec Motorsports OUL
1
7 		OUL
2
4 		OUL
3
Ret 		SIL1
1
13 		SIL1
2
8 		SIL1
3
22 		SPA
1
6 		SPA
2
Ret 		SPA
3
21 		SNE
1
20 		SNE
2
16 		SNE
3
169 		SIL2
1
10 		SIL2
2
9 		SIL2
3
C 		BRH
1
11 		BRH
2
11 		BRH
3
Ret 		ZAN
1
13 		ZAN
2
13 		ZAN
3
92 		DON
1
6 		DON
2
3 		DON
3
89 		11th 215

Complete Macau Grand Prix results

[edit]
Year Team Car Qualifying Quali Race Main race
2023 Switzerland Jenzer Motorsport Dallara F3 2019 21st 16th 20th

Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results

[edit]

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2023 Rodin Carlin BHR
SPR 		BHR
FEA 		MEL
SPR 		MEL
FEA 		MON
SPR 		MON
FEA 		CAT
SPR 		CAT
FEA 		RBR
SPR 		RBR
FEA 		SIL
SPR
24 		SIL
FEA
Ret 		HUN
SPR
18 		HUN
FEA
21 		SPA
SPR 		SPA
FEA 		MNZ
SPR 		MNZ
FEA 		35th 0
2024 Jenzer Motorsport BHR
SPR
6 		BHR
FEA
24 		MEL
SPR
26 		MEL
FEA
14 		IMO
SPR
18 		IMO
FEA
21 		MON
SPR
14 		MON
FEA
17 		CAT
SPR
22 		CAT
FEA
23 		RBR
SPR
18 		RBR
FEA
17 		SIL
SPR
Ret 		SIL
FEA
18 		HUN
SPR
16 		HUN
FEA
15 		SPA
SPR
Ret 		SPA
FEA
7 		MNZ
SPR
Ret 		MNZ
FEA
Ret 		21st 11

Complete FIA Formula 2 Championship results

[edit]

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 DC Points
2024 Trident BHR
SPR 		BHR
FEA 		JED
SPR 		JED
FEA 		MEL
SPR 		MEL
FEA 		IMO
SPR 		IMO
FEA 		MON
SPR 		MON
FEA 		CAT
SPR 		CAT
FEA 		RBR
SPR 		RBR
FEA 		SIL
SPR 		SIL
FEA 		HUN
SPR 		HUN
FEA 		SPA
SPR 		SPA
FEA 		MNZ
SPR 		MNZ
FEA 		BAK
SPR 		BAK
FEA 		LSL
SPR
14 		LSL
FEA
18 		YMC
SPR
14 		YMC
FEA
17 		31st 0
2025 Trident MEL
SPR
Ret 		MEL
FEA
C 		BHR
SPR
Ret 		BHR
FEA
21 		JED
SPR
18 		JED
FEA
18 		IMO
SPR
17 		IMO
FEA
19 		MON
SPR
13 		MON
FEA
Ret 		CAT
SPR
19 		CAT
FEA
14 		RBR
SPR
10 		RBR
FEA
15 		SIL
SPR
21 		SIL
FEA
13 		SPA
SPR
14 		SPA
FEA
16 		HUN
SPR
19 		HUN
FEA
19 		MNZ
SPR
Ret 		MNZ
FEA
15 		BAK
SPR 		BAK
FEA 		LSL
SPR 		LSL
FEA 		YMC
SPR 		YMC
FEA 		23rd 0

* Season still in progress.

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

[edit]

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

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points
2025 JDC–Miller MotorSports GTP Porsche 963 Porsche 9RD 4.6 L Turbo V8 DAY SEB LBH LGA DET WGL ELK IMS PET
12 		41st 209
2026 RLL Team McLaren GTD Pro McLaren 720S GT3 Evo McLaren M840T 4.0 L Turbo V8 DAY
12 		SEB LGA DET WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS PET 12th* 222*

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Max Esterson

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Max Esterson (born October 9, 2002) is an American professional racing driver who competed in the with during the 2025 season. Born and raised in to a father who was a former racecar engineer, Esterson began his journey in at age 11 using , where he achieved a global top-35 ranking and fourth place in the U.S. by age 13. Esterson transitioned to real-world racing in 2019, starting with karting and a Formula Ford test in the U.S., before moving to the in 2020 to pursue single-seater series. In 2021, he finished third in the BRSCC Avon Tyres National Championship with nine wins and secured the Walter Hayes Trophy, becoming the first American to win the prestigious one-make race. The following year, 2022, marked another milestone as he became the first American winner of the Festival while placing seventh in the with Douglas Motorsport, including a victory at . Progressing up the junior formulae, Esterson debuted in FIA Formula 3 in 2023 with Rodin Carlin and , scoring his first points with a sixth-place finish in the sprint race, and ended the year 35th overall across four events. In 2024, he contested a full FIA Formula 3 season with , finishing 21st, before making his Formula 2 debut in the end-of-season rounds with , where he placed 31st across four races. Elevated to a full-time FIA Formula 2 seat with for 2025, Esterson competed in the first eleven rounds (22 races) of the season, including high-profile events like the , before parting ways with the team in September; he aims for a potential Formula 1 opportunity, possibly with the incoming team in 2026, and has debuted in sportscar racing with a GTP class appearance at in October 2025.

Early career

Sim racing

Max Esterson began his motorsport journey in sim racing at the age of 11, starting on the platform in 2013 from his home in . Initially using a basic setup clamped to his desk, he progressed rapidly through the online ranks, competing in virtual races that honed his driving skills and racecraft without the need for physical tracks. By 2019, Esterson had established himself as a top sim racer, finishing seventh overall in the VRS GT World Championship with 204 points across the season's events. His success continued into 2020 amid the , where he claimed the championship in the Formula Race Promotions iRacing Challenge, a series simulating 1600 cars on tracks like . That same year, Esterson tutored professional drivers adapting to virtual platforms, including five-time champion and sportscar racer Richard Westbrook, helping them navigate iRacing's intricacies during restricted real-world racing. In 2021, Esterson further solidified his reputation by winning the Road to Indy TireRack.com eSeries championship, dominating multiple rounds in simulated Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 cars to secure the title ahead of competitors like Braden Eves. These virtual triumphs attracted attention from the community, leading to his first real-world karting tests in and full entry into karting competitions in 2019, along with initial sponsorships that supported his transition to physical racing.

Karting

Esterson entered physical karting in late 2018 at nearly 16 years old, attending a at Oakland Valley Race Park in , organized by sportscar driver Stevan McAleer. This outing served as his initial bridge from , providing hands-on experience with real machinery despite lacking prior karting background. In 2019, he undertook a partial season with McAleer Racing at the same venue, contesting five race meetings in the club's X30 Senior class. Representative events included club series races where he focused on adapting to physical elements like g-forces and tire management, which differed markedly from virtual simulations. Esterson's late introduction to karting—unplanned and brief compared to the early starts of most young talents—highlighted the preparatory value of his sim racing prowess, enabling a swift transition toward single-seater competition by year's end.

Single-seater career

Formula Ford

Max Esterson began his single-seater racing career in 2020 with a partial season in the , competing for Team Pelfrey in the United States. Despite the season being shortened by the , he secured one victory, three pole positions, and four podium finishes, ending the year fifth overall in the standings. Later that year, Esterson made a one-off appearance in the F2000 Championship Series at , where he claimed victory and set a track record in the process. These results marked his transition from karting as a relatively late starter into professional racing. Esterson then traveled to the for his international debut at the 2020 Formula Ford Festival at , where he finished sixth in the grand final after qualifying second in his heat race with Low Dempsey Racing. He followed this with an entry in the Walter Hayes Trophy at , finishing 14th overall in the event. In 2021, Esterson committed to a full season in the Avon Tyres National Formula Ford Championship with Low Dempsey Racing, supported by the Team USA Scholarship. He achieved two wins, one , 13 podiums, and two track records across 20 races, securing third place in the pro class standings. At the 50th Formula Ford Festival later that year, Esterson started the grand final from 13th on the grid but fought through the field to finish second. He capped the season by dominating the Walter Hayes Trophy, taking , winning both heat races, and leading the final from start to finish to claim victory as the first American winner. Returning to the in 2022 with Ammonite Motorsport—formerly Low Dempsey Racing—Esterson targeted the premier events to bolster his profile ahead of higher formulas. At the Formula Ford Festival, he secured by nearly half a second in wet qualifying, won his heat race, and led every lap of the grand final before it was red-flagged due to heavy rain after two laps, earning the win as the first American victor in the event's history. In the Walter Hayes Trophy, Esterson again topped qualifying and won his heat and semi-final, but a penalty in the grand final at dropped him to fifth place overall. These Formula Ford campaigns demonstrated Esterson's rapid adaptation to European racing circuits and team environments, with strategic switches from U.S.-based Team Pelfrey to UK outfits like Low Dempsey and Ammonite Motorsport. His consistent podium finishes, event wins, and records across transatlantic series built a strong foundation, attracting attention from teams in more advanced categories.

GB3 Championship

Esterson entered the , a premier British single-seater series serving as a key feeder pathway to international formulas, following his successes in , including the 2021 Walter Hayes Trophy win. In his rookie 2022 season with Douglas Motorsport, he competed across 24 races, securing seventh place in the drivers' standings with one victory and three podium finishes. His debut win came in the second race at , marking his first triumph on slicks and wings after starting from pole, while additional podiums followed at Spa-Francorchamps and a later Donington event, demonstrating strong adaptability in a competitive field of established talents. Switching to Fortec Motorsports for 2023, Esterson faced a more challenging campaign amid technical reliability issues and inconsistent qualifying performances, finishing 11th overall with 215 points and a single . The season-ending arrived in third place during the second race at , providing a highlight in an otherwise frustrating year marked by mechanical failures such as throttle malfunctions and engine problems, as well as misfortune like untimely red flags. Despite these hurdles, including being 27 points behind his teammate Jarrod Waberski midway through the season, Esterson noted a positive working relationship with his engineer, emphasizing the team's efforts to overcome persistent setbacks. The , rebranded from BRDC British Formula 3 in 2022, remains a vital domestic stepping stone, awarding points to its top five finishers—10 for the champion, seven for second, five for third, two for fourth, and one for fifth—to facilitate progression toward elite series like FIA Formula 3. Although Esterson did not secure direct points allocation in either year due to his midfield placements, his consistent top-ten results and race-winning pedigree in GB3 underscored his growth as a contender, contributing to his accumulation of experience and reputation for higher-tier opportunities.

FIA Formula 3 Championship

Esterson made his debut in the during the 2023 season, competing in a partial campaign with Rodin Carlin across the and rounds, where he adapted to the competitive international field after his GB3 experience. He participated in four races total, achieving a best finish of 18th in the Budapest feature race, and ended the season 35th in the drivers' standings with no points. Later that year, Esterson joined for the FIA Formula 3 World Cup at the , marking his first outing on the challenging . He qualified 21st before advancing to 16th in the qualifying race, then finished 20th in the main race amid incidents including restarts and crashes that affected the field. In 2024, Esterson progressed to a full-time seat with , contesting all 10 rounds and 20 races as the sole American driver on the grid. Highlights included a career-best second place in qualifying and points-scoring finishes of sixth in the Bahrain sprint race (5 points) and seventh in the Spa-Francorchamps feature race (6 points), with strong wet-weather pace noted in practice sessions. He concluded the season 21st overall with 11 points, earning one point through his championship position and gaining valuable exposure in the primary Formula 1 feeder series.

FIA Formula 2 Championship

Esterson made his debut in 2024 with , joining the team for the final two rounds in and after graduating from the . Competing in four races, he focused on adapting to the more powerful chassis and the series' sprint and feature race formats, which demand strategic tire management and overtaking in denser fields compared to F3. Despite the limited exposure, Esterson finished 31st in the overall drivers' standings with no points scored, providing valuable experience in the midfield battles typical of Trident's competitive positioning. For the 2025 season, Esterson secured a full-time seat with alongside , aiming to build on his late-2024 outings in the premier open-wheel feeder series to Formula 1. As a , he faced significant challenges in the early rounds, struggling with consistency and pace in both qualifying and races amid 's midfield status, which often limited the team's resources for setup optimization against top outfits like Prema and . Esterson participated in the first 11 rounds (22 races), finishing primarily outside the top 15 and scoring zero points, remaining last in the drivers' standings until his departure. Trident and Esterson mutually agreed to part ways, announced on September 13, 2025, before the Baku round (September 19-21), citing performance shortfalls in a season where the team languished at the bottom of the constructors' standings. This abrupt exit left Esterson without a race seat for the remainder of the campaign, prompting him to seek opportunities in other series while reflecting on the steep learning curve of F2's competitive environment. As of November 2025, he lies 21st in the provisional drivers' standings with no points from his partial year.

Sportscar racing

In late 2025, Max Esterson made his debut in sportscar racing at the , the season finale of the , driving for JDC-Miller MotorSports in the No. 85 in the GTP class. This one-off appearance followed the conclusion of his FIA Formula 2 campaign and marked his first venture into prototype endurance racing. Teaming up with experienced co-drivers , a 2016 winner, and , Esterson adapted to the team-based format of the 10-hour event at , where he had prior familiarity from earlier single-seater outings. Esterson's preparation involved a targeted audition process with JDC-Miller, including a short test session in the prototype, which allowed him to acclimate to the closed-cockpit hypercar's handling, hybrid powertrain, and endurance-specific demands like night stints and tire management. During qualifying, he secured 12th on the overall grid, posting a best lap just 0.183 seconds off the car's fastest time set by Jani, demonstrating competitive pace against factory entries. In the race, Esterson started strong, climbing into the top four early on and maintaining laps within tenths of leading GTP drivers, but the No. 85 encountered misfortune after a collision with the No. 25 at Turn 10, which dropped it several laps down. The car ultimately finished 12th overall after completing 433 laps, three behind the winning No. 31 . This debut highlighted Esterson's quick adaptation from the sprint-oriented, individual nature of open-wheel racing to the strategic, collaborative elements of sportscar endurance events, where he managed effective stints under varying conditions including darkness. Post-race, Esterson reflected on the as a successful audition, noting the challenges of the transition but expressing optimism about racing's potential as a career avenue. He indicated interest in pursuing opportunities in series like or the , or even GT3 platforms, as a complement or alternative to his open-wheel aspirations, depending on sponsorship support. In November 2025, Esterson took part in the Sanctioned Test at , driving a GTP and completing runs, though posting times at the bottom of the prototype field.

Personal life

Early life

Max Esterson was born on October 9, 2002, in , . He holds dual American-British nationality, stemming from his family heritage. Esterson grew up in a supportive family environment as the second of three sons to his parents, Robin and Pam Esterson. His father, a former race car engineer and designer in the 1980s, worked on Formula 3 cars and other vehicles, which provided early familial ties to . This background shaped his initial surroundings and later influenced his move to the to pursue a racing career.

Education

Esterson attended the in , graduating in the class of 2018. He then enrolled at Regis High School, another prestigious institution in , where he was described as a strong student navigating its demanding curriculum. Esterson graduated from Regis in 2021. The onset of the in 2020 significantly influenced Esterson's ability to balance his education with his burgeoning interests, as Regis shifted to remote learning. This flexibility allowed him to dedicate more time to simulation and initial real-world karting sessions without disrupting his studies, enabling him to complete his high school requirements online even after relocating to the in 2021. Following his graduation, Esterson transitioned to full-time pursuits, prioritizing his professional career. The rigorous academic environment at Regis, which Esterson has called a "really tough school," fostered discipline and focus that complemented his racing commitments by emphasizing time management and perseverance.

Racing record

Career summary

Max Esterson began his competitive racing journey in sim racing platforms like iRacing at age 11, achieving top global rankings before transitioning to real-world single-seater racing in 2020 with Formula Ford in the UK. His rapid progression saw him advance through junior formulas, securing a full-season FIA Formula 3 seat in 2024 and a rookie FIA Formula 2 campaign with Trident in 2025, while also debuting in sportscar racing that year. This trajectory from virtual racing to the FIA feeder series earned him 11 FIA Super Licence points, primarily from his 2024 Formula 3 performance.
SeriesYearsTeam(s)StartsWinsPodiumsPolesFinal Position
2020–2022Low Dempsey Racing, Amity Search Partners, Ammonite Motorsport3942053rd (2021)
2022Douglas Motorsport241317th
2023Fortec Motorsport2301011th
2023Rodin Carlin4000NC (0 points, guest driver)
20242000021st (11 points)
20244000NC (0 points)
20252200021st (0 points)
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (GTP)2025JDC-Miller MotorSports100041st (209 points)
Esterson's career highlights include 5 wins across junior formulas, with 4 in Formula Ford and 1 in GB3, alongside 24 podiums in those series demonstrating consistent front-running pace. His progression rate reflects an accelerated path, moving from debutant to Formula 2 in just five real-world seasons, bolstered by strong qualifying showings like multiple Formula Ford poles.

2022 GB3 Championship (Douglas Motorsport)

Esterson competed in all eight rounds of the 2022 GB3 Championship with Douglas Motorsport, finishing 7th overall with 292.5 points, including 1 win, 3 podiums, 1 pole position, and 2 fastest laps.
RoundTrackQualifyingSprint RaceFeature RacePointsNotes
1Oulton Park--8th-Finished 8th in race 3.
2-4th4th-Best results of early season.
3Pole (feature)3rd1st-Maiden podium and win; fastest lap in feature race.
4Spa-Francorchamps3rd-3rd-Podium in feature race.
5Thruxton----Battled in lower top 10; no specific incidents reported.
6----Battled in lower top 10; no specific incidents reported.
7--8th-Started 13th in wet feature race; track limits penalty.
8--DNF-Crash in race 3; sore back for weeks.
No unique DNS reported; DNF at Brands Hatch due to crash.

2023 GB3 Championship (Fortec Motorsports)

Esterson raced in seven of eight rounds in 2023 with Fortec Motorsports (missing round 7 for FIA Formula 3 commitment), finishing 11th overall with 215 points, including 1 podium and 1 fastest lap. The season was marked by mechanical issues, including throttle sensor failures, gear selector problems, and engine performance deficits.
RoundTrackQualifyingSprint RaceFeature RacePointsNotes
1Oulton Park----No specific results detailed; early season struggles with setup.
2Brands Hatch----No specific results detailed; early season struggles with setup.
3Donington Park--3rd-Sole podium of season.
4Spa-Francorchamps--DNF-DNF from 4th due to mechanical failure; poor qualifying red flag timing.
5Silverstone6th (race 3)10th9th-Started 18th in race 1 (gained 8 places); started 17th in race 2 (gained 8 places); race 3 cancelled due to weather.
6SnettertonDNS---No qualifying laps due to loom shorting and gear issues; did not start races.
7Donington ParkDid not participate---Absent for FIA Formula 3 commitment.
8Brands Hatch--8th-Finished 8th in one race.
Table notes: Multiple DNFs and DNS attributed to mechanical failures unique to Fortec's package, including throttle sensor and gear selector issues; no crashes reported.

Complete results

Esterson scored points in the Bahrain sprint race with sixth place and in the Spa feature race with seventh place. He finished 21st in the drivers' championship with 11 points.

2023

Esterson made guest appearances for Rodin Carlin at and .
RoundCircuitQualifyingSprint RaceFeature RacePoints
724th24thRet0
825th18th21st0
For the non-championship 2023 Macau GP with Jenzer Motorsport:
EventCircuitQualifyingQualifying RaceMain RacePoints
2023 Macau GPGuia Circuit21st16th20thN/A

2024

Esterson contested the full season with Jenzer Motorsport.
CircuitQualifyingSprint RaceFeature RacePoints
Bahrain10th6th24th5
Melbourne20th26th14th0
Imola22nd18th21st0
Monaco23rd14th17th0
Barcelona25th22nd23rd0
Spielberg18th18th17th0
Silverstone2ndRet18th0
Hungaroring16th16th15th0
Spa-Francorchamps6thRet7th6
Monza19thRetRet0

Complete FIA Formula 2 Championship results

Esterson made his debut with in the final two rounds of the 2024 season, replacing after the Dutch driver's departure to . He competed in four races across and , finishing outside the points in all outings with no retirements or fastest laps recorded.
YearTeamRoundsQualifyingSprint RaceFeature RacePoints
202413 (Qatar)13th14th18th0
202414 (Abu Dhabi)19th14th17th0
In 2025, Esterson continued with for a full campaign, participating in the first 11 rounds (22 races) before parting ways with the team by mutual agreement on September 13, ahead of the round, due to a lack of results and the team's bottom position in the standings. He scored no points, finishing 21st in the Drivers' Championship with zero tallies. His season was hampered by mechanical issues, including engine failures in the sprint and sprint races, leading to retirements. Representative results included 14th in the feature race (Round 6), 15th in the Spielberg feature race (Round 5), and 15th in the feature race (Round 11), with most finishes outside the top 15 and several DNFs due to reliability problems. No pole positions, wins, podiums, or fastest laps were achieved. 's overall poor performance, finishing last in the teams' standings after Round 11, provided limited context for Esterson's challenges in adapting to the series' higher speeds and reversed-grid sprint format.

Complete sportscar results

Esterson made his sportscar racing debut in the GTP class at the 2025 , a 10-hour endurance event at Raceway Road Atlanta, driving the No. 85 for JDC-Miller MotorSports alongside co-drivers and . The team qualified 12th in the GTP class after Jani set a lap time of 1:13.157. Esterson started the race and completed three consecutive stints on the same set of right-side tires, advancing the car from 12th to as high as 4th in class during his opening run. Later, the car was involved in an incident when struck by the No. 25 at Turn 10, costing and dropping it out of contention for a higher finish; the team struggled further in cooler night conditions under multiple full-course cautions. The No. 85 completed 433 , finishing 12th in GTP and overall, three laps behind the winner.
YearClassTeamCarCo-driversQualifyingStintsLapsFinal Pos.
2025GTPJDC-Miller MotorSports
12th3 stints (Esterson opening run)43312th

References

  1. https://www.fiaformula3.com/Drivers/1439/Max-Esterson
  2. https://www.fiaformula2.com/Drivers/1253/Max-Esterson
  3. https://www.maxesterson.com/
  4. https://www.palmbeachillustrated.com/max-esterson-is-a-speed-racer/
  5. https://www.fiaformula3.com/Latest/eorq4X2ily6P0CwY0Tb3V/from-sim-racing-prodigy-to-formula-3-rookie-the-story-of-max-esterson
  6. https://www.gb-3.net/drivers/2022/max-esterson
  7. https://formulascout.com/trident-to-replace-its-f2-driver-pairing-for-baku/134527
  8. https://racingnews365.com/f2-calendar-2025
  9. https://formulascout.com/esterson-lands-hypercar-seat-at-petit-le-mans-after-ending-f2-campaign/135178
  10. https://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-the-teen-online-racing-whiz-pro-drivers-want-to-know-11586873621
  11. https://www.iracing.com/vrs-coanda-simsport-clinches-2019-vrs-gt-iracing-world-championship-in-sebring/
  12. https://www.insidef2.com/max-esterson-from-sim-racing-to-formula-2/
  13. https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a46068503/american-iracing-phenom-f1-max-esterson/
  14. https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/eracing-news/61146-tirerack-com-eseries-wraps-up-with-all-star-invitational/
  15. https://racer.com/2021/10/08/max-esterson-my-new-reality
  16. https://www.racefrp.com/news/max-esterson-confirmed-as-championship-contender-for-team-pelfrey-in-2020
  17. https://gb-3.net/drivers/2023/max-esterson
  18. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/us-racing/max-esterson-the-us-ace-making-waves-in-formula-ford/
  19. https://ammonitemotorsport.com/news/formula-ford-festival-walter-hayes-trophy-2020-round-up
  20. https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/max-esterson
  21. https://www.autosport.com/national/news/esterson-wins-walter-hayes-trophy-as-smith-reclaims-british-truck-title/6765924/
  22. https://ammonitemotorsport.com/news/max-esterson-wins-formula-ford-festival-with-ammonite-motorsport
  23. https://www.autosport.com/national/news/esterson-penalty-provisionally-hands-foster-walter-hayes-trophy-win/10397037/
  24. https://gb-3.net/news/2022/nov/25/maxs-musings-esterson-recaps-2022-gb3-season
  25. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2022-donington-british-f3-2/
  26. https://www.driverdb.com/championships/formula-3-britain/2023
  27. https://www.fortecmotorsport.com/podium-brace-and-strong-points-haul-for-fortecs-gb3-trio-at-donington-decider/
  28. https://feederseries.net/2023/08/03/how-the-2023-season-has-been-a-disaster-for-max-esterson-and-fortec-motorsport/
  29. https://www.gb-3.net/prizes
  30. https://formulascout.com/gb3-announces-reversed-grid-change-and-superlicence-points-for-2024/117240
  31. https://www.fiaformula3.com/Latest/4kenZJudQEfDxhey98slrW/rodin-carlin-confirms-max-esterson-for-silverstone-and-budapest
  32. https://www.fiaformula3.com/Standings/Driver?seasonId=180
  33. https://www.maxesterson.com/results
  34. https://www.motorsport.com/f3/news/macau-browning-wins-chaotic-race/10548800/
  35. https://www.fiaformula3.com/Standings/Driver?seasonId=181
  36. https://www.fiaformula3.com/Results?raceid=1057
  37. https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/4ne99butESP8ulyZT5gZOz/max-esterson-to-finish-2024-season-with-trident
  38. https://www.gb-3.net/news/2024/nov/11/gb3-race-winner-max-esterson-graduates-to-formula-2
  39. https://www.pitdebrief.com/post/2025-f2-review-after-round-6-max-esterson/
  40. https://www.fiaformula2.com/Standings/Driver
  41. https://www.insidef2.com/bottom-f2-team-trident-drops-both-drivers/
  42. https://www.motorsport.com/fia-f2/news/best-american-drivers-gp2-f2/10758088/
  43. https://www.imsa.com/news/2025/09/30/esterson-jani-join-jdc-miller-motorsports-for-petit-le-mans-2025/
  44. https://jdcmotorsports.com/jdc-miller-motorsports-wraps-up-2025-season-with-a-12th-place-finish-at-petit-le-mans/
  45. https://racer.com/2025/10/17/how-esterson-passed-the-audition-at-petit-le-mans
  46. https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/ppdb/2025/10/best-porsche-963-lines-up-on-second-row-for-petit-le-mans.html
  47. https://pca.org/news/porsche-penske-wins-2025-imsa-gtp-championship-963-third-at-petit
  48. https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/results/2025/petit-le-mans-656887/
  49. https://www.dailysportscar.com/2025/11/15/60-msr-acura-takes-its-turn-at-the-top.html
  50. https://issuu.com/allen-stevenson/docs/lamplighter_spring_2022/s/16322347
  51. https://uk.linkedin.com/in/max-esterson-56478b1b2
  52. https://www.iracing.com/motor-sport-max-esterson-the-us-ace-making-waves-in-formula-ford/
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