Formula One: Robert Shwartzman joins Ferrari Driver Academy
By Asher Fair
18-year-old Russian Formula Renault 2.0 driver Robert Shwartzman has signed with the Ferrari Driver Academy, joining seven other drivers.
Scuderia Ferrari has signed Russia’s Robert Shwartzman, 18, to their Formula One team’s Driver Academy. In doing so, Shwartzman will join seven other drivers who are currently in the program, including some pretty notable ones.
Current drivers in the Ferrari Driver Academy include Giuliano Alesi, Marcus Armstrong, Enzo Fittipaldi, Antonio Fuoco, Callum Ilott, Guan Yu Zhou and perhaps most notably Charles Leclerc, the 20-year-old Monégasque driver who is a favorite to land a seat with Scuderia Ferrari in Formula One in the 2019 season after winning the 2016 GP3 Series championship and this year’s Formula 2 championship.
Here is what Shwartzman had to say about his opportunity to develop his driving skills as a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
"“Developing as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy is a fantastic opportunity for myself to reach a new level. I will do everything I can. And I’m sure that the results will already be evident in 2018.”"
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Shwartzman is backed by SMP Racing, and he currently drives for R-ace GP in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 championship. With four wins and five other podium finishes through 20 of this season’s 23 races, he finds himself in 4th place in the drivers standings. He has also driven in three races in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup for the team this year as a guest driver.
Shwartzman drove in the Italian F4 Championship in 2014 and 2015 for Cram Motorsport and Mücke Motorsport and finished in 16th place and 3rd place in the drivers standings, respectively. He also drove in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship in 2015 for Mücke Motorsport and finished in 4th place in the drivers standings.
Last year, Shwartzman began his career in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 championship, doing so for Josef Kaufmann Racing and finishing in 8th place in the drivers standings. Also last year, he drove for the team in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup and won two races en route to a 6th place finish in the drivers standings.
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Robert Shwartzman is set to embark on a journey during which he will attempt to improve his driving skills to the point where he can potentially land a ride in Formula One, the world’s most prestigious open-wheel racing series. Will he be successful in his endeavors?