No trophy this year. No name on the list.
For the first time since its 1989 debut, the Silverstone Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award won’t crown a winner in 2025. The organisers are hitting pause, taking stock, and plotting a reboot for the modern era.
A Proven Launchpad
Over three decades, the Award’s roll of honour reads like a British motorsport hall of fame.
David Coulthard. Jenson Button. Dario Franchitti. Anthony Davidson. Jake Dennis. Oliver Rowland. And in more recent times, Lando Norris, George Russell, Oliver Bearman and Alex Albon.
The prize has always been more than just a cheque. Past winners have earned Formula 1 tests with McLaren or Aston Martin, plus a career-changing spotlight that opened doors all the way to the world stage.
The Last Winner -For Now
Deagen Fairclough took the 2024 title with a package worth £200,000 and an Aston Martin F1 test still to come later this year. His assessment week was classic YDA: physical and simulator tests, followed by track time in MSV’s Formula 2 machinery, GT3 laps in a Beechdean Aston Martin Vantage, and LMP3 runs with RLR M Sport at Silverstone.
Why the Break?
Times have changed. Every F1 team now has its own junior programme, and driver development pathways have multiplied.
Long-time chairman Derek Warwick says this is the right moment to “stop and re-evaluate”, with partners McLaren, Aston Martin, Silverstone, Autosport and the BRDC aligned on reshaping the contest for today’s motorsport landscape.
The aim? A bigger, more relevant Award that reflects current junior racing realities – and the new Silverstone International karting track waiting in the wings.
The Legacy Stands
Four former finalists are on the current F1 grid. Multiple Le Mans winners and Indy 500 champions have also come through its ranks. The BRDC’s SuperStars and Rising Stars schemes will continue unaffected.
From Coulthard’s inaugural win to Norris fighting for this year’s F1 world title, the Silverstone Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award has been a constant thread in British racing.
2025 will be the gap year. 2026 is where the next chapter begins.
Past Winners
1989 — David Coulthard
1990 — Gareth Rees
1991 — Oliver Gavin
1992 — Dario Franchitti
1993 — Ralph Firman Jr
1994 — Jamie Davies
1995 — Jonny Kane
1996 — Darren Turner
1997 — Andrew Kirkaldy
1998 — Jenson Button
1999 — Gary Paffett
2000 — Anthony Davidson
2001 — Steven Kane
2002 — Jamie Green
2003 — Alex Lloyd
2004 — Paul di Resta
2005 — Oliver Jarvis
2006 — Oliver Turvey
2007 — Stefan Wilson
2008 — Alexander Sims
2009 — Dean Smith
2010 — Lewis Williamson
2011 — Oliver Rowland
2012 — Jake Dennis
2013 — Matt Parry
2014 — George Russell
2015 — Will Palmer
2016 — Lando Norris
2017 — Dan Ticktum
2018 — Tom Gamble
2019 — Johnathan Hoggard
2020 — Not awarded (COVID)
2021 — Zak O’Sullivan
2022 — Luke Browning
2023 — Joseph Loake
2024 — Deagen Fairclough