The unconventional route taken by McLaren’s new academy chief

After almost two decades working at one of the most successful junior single-seater teams in motorsport, Stephanie Carlin joined McLaren at the beginning of the year, supporting young drivers who are part of the team’s Driver Development Programme.

Carlin’s route to the job is in stark contrast to the previous academy chief at the Formula 1 constructors’ championship-leading outfit, with Emanuele Pirro instead offering his vast driving experience across numerous categories in top-level motorsport to the role.

Her entry to motorsport came via a PR position with the former A1GP championship, before transitioning to the family Carlin team now known as Rodin Motorsport, becoming commercial manager. This became deputy team principal in 2022 and latterly team principal – a role she also held at Team X44’s Extreme E effort.

“It was exciting to go from a championship where you didn’t cheer for anybody – you just hoped enough people turned up on the Sunday – to having a vested interest,” Carlin told GP Racing.

“The transition occurred very quickly, and I’ve noticed it again when I joined McLaren at the beginning of the year. At Carlin one of my jobs was to be responsible for helping shape the team’s brand, by creating a feel and a culture within the organisation, and it was exciting to be a part of that.”

But whilst five-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Pirro, whose technical prowess was passed on to his sons as well as McLaren’s young drivers, was able to recall his own racing experience as part of his CV for the role, Carlin has been part of one of the key outfits for preparing young drivers for F1.

Names such as F1 champions Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg have passed through the Carlin ranks, as have Lando Norris, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo, Takuma Sato and Robert Kubica.

Outside of F1 talent and you find champions in Josef Newgarden and Jamie Green, among others.

Race winner Lando Norris, Carlin

Photo by: FIA Formula 2

“It was amazing to be part of the story for so many drivers,” Carlin insisted when asked what separated good drivers from the great.

“But that’s a difficult question to answer because every racer is so different. Some drivers are very technical, others are naturally talented but don’t understand why. You get drivers who work hard and apply themselves. But I think one…