For about a decade, Formula 1 teams have been investing in academies, corporate programs for young drivers with the aim of training the champions of tomorrow. The most shining examples of this policy are currently Max Verstappen in Red Bull and Charles Leclerc in Scuderia Ferrari, accompanied step by step by the respective teams to transform them into the leaders of the teams. In the recent past Lewis Hamilton was “raised” by McLaren, until he won the world title in 2008; and so Sebastian Vettel became world champion four times with Red Bull after a long sponsorship path that started with karts. Other times the path was more bumpy than expected and some drivers were forced to change “orbit” to build their career, such as Sergio Perez, Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz.
Of the 20 drivers on the 2021 Formula 1 starting grid, six will be Red Bull ‘products’ (30%), while five have passed through the Ferrari Academy (25%). Two for Mercedes, McLaren and Williams (10%).
| Driver | Academy |
| Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | McLaren |
| Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) | Williams |
| Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | Red Bull |
| Sergio Perez (Red Bull) | Ferrari |
| Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) | Red Bull |
| Lando Norris (McLaren) | McLaren |
| Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) | Red Bull |
| Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) | Ferrari |
| Fernando Alonso (Alpine) | – |
| Esteban Ocon (Alpine) | Mercedes |
| Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | Ferrari |
| Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) | Red Bull |
| Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) | Red Bull |
| Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) | Red Bull |
| Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) | – |
| Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) | Ferrari |
| Mick Schumacher (Haas) | Ferrari |
| Nikita Mazepin (Haas) | – |
| George Russell (Williams) | Mercedes |
| Nicholas Latifi (Williams) | Williams |
