Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 9, 2026

Alpine Academy

The Alpine Academy, formerly known as the RF1 Driver Programme, Renault Driver Development and Renault Sport Academy, is a driver development programme to support young racing drivers through their careers. The programme was created by Renault F1 in 2002.

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France Alpine Academy
Founded2002 (2002) (as RF1 Driver Programme)
BaseEnstone, Oxfordshire, England
Team principal(s)Julian Rouse (Director)
Current driversFormula 2
Republic of Ireland Alex Dunne
India Kush Maini
Italy Gabriele Minì
Eurocup-3
United Arab Emirates Keanu Al Azhari
Formula Regional
Singapore Kabir Anurag
F1 Academy
Netherlands Nina Gademan
Karting
United Kingdom Sukhmani Kaur Khera
Websitehttps://www.alpine-cars.co.uk/formula-1/alpine-academy.html

The Alpine Academy,1 formerly known as the RF1 Driver Programme, Renault Driver Development and Renault Sport Academy, is a driver development programme to support young racing drivers through their careers. The programme was created by Renault F1 in 2002.

In 2011, the programme was renamed LRGP Academy, following the rebranding of the team to "Lotus Renault GP".2 In 2012, the programme was renamed Lotus F1 Team iRace Professional Programme and 2013–2015, the programme was renamed Lotus F1 Junior Team. In 2021, the programme was renamed Alpine Academy after the rebranding of the Renault F1 team into Alpine F1 Team. In March 2022, the Alpine Affiliates programme was launched as a support to drivers starting their motorsport careers, and is intended to be a feeder for the Alpine Academy.3 However, it was merged into Alpine Academy at the start of 2023.

Current drivers

Driver Years Current Series Titles as Alpine junior
India Kush Maini4 2023– FIA Formula 2 Championship none
Italy Gabriele Minì5 2023– FIA Formula 2 Championship none
Singapore Kabir Anurag6 2024– Formula Regional Middle East Trophy
Formula Regional European Championship 		none
United Arab Emirates Keanu Al Azhari7 2025– Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship
Eurocup-3 		Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship (2026)
Netherlands Nina Gademan8 2025– F1 Academy none
United Kingdom Sukhmani Kaur Khera910 2025–note 1 Karting none
Republic of Ireland Alex Dunne11 2026– FIA Formula 2 Championship none

Graduates to Formula 1

This list contains the drivers that have graduated to Formula 1 while being supported by Renault, Lotus Renault, or Alpine. Therefore, drivers who have had support in the past and entered Formula 1 through other means are not included. For example, both Zhou Guanyu and Oscar Piastri were members of the Alpine Academy, however, they broke their ties with the academy to pursue a graduation to Formula 1 with another team.1213

Driver Academy experience F1 experience with Renault/Lotus/Alpine F1 experience with other teams
Years Former series
Finland Heikki Kovalainen 2002–2005 British Formula 3 Championship (2002)
World Series by Nissan (2003–2004)
GP2 Series (2005) 		2007 McLaren (2008–2009)
Team Lotus (2010–2011)
Caterham (2012)
Lotus F1 (2013)
France Romain Grosjean 2006–2009 Formula 3 Euro Series (2006–2007)
GP2 Asia Series (2008)
GP2 Series (2008–2009) 		2009
2012–2015 		Haas (2016–2020)
Australia Jack Doohan 2022–2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship (2022–2023) 2024–2025 N/a

Former drivers

Renault / Lotus Renault GP (2002–2011)

Driver Years Series competed F1 Team(s)
Brazil Fabio Carbone 2002 British Formula 3 Championship (2002) None
Poland Robert Kubica 2002 Italian Formula Renault Championship (2002) BMW Sauber (2006–2009)
Renault (2010)
Williams (2019)
Alfa Romeo (2021)
Portugal Tiago Monteiro 2002 French Formula Three Championship (2002)
International Formula 3000 (2002) 		Jordan (2005)
Midland F1 (2006)
Netherlands Carlo van Dam 2002 Karting (2002) None
France Eric Salignon 2002–2003 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2002)
Championnat de France Formula Renault 2.0 (2002)
British Formula 3 Championship (2003) 		None
United Kingdom Danny Watts 2003 British Formula 3 Championship (2003) None
Argentina José María López 2003–2006 Formula Renault V6 Eurocup (2003)
International Formula 3000 (2004)
GP2 Series (2005–2006) 		None
Netherlands Giedo van der Garde 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series (2004) Caterham (2013)
France Loïc Duval 2004–2005 Formula 3 Euro Series (2004–2005) None
Venezuela Pastor Maldonado 2004–2005 Italian Formula Renault Championship (2004)
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2004)
Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2005) 		Williams (2011–2013)
Lotus F1 (2014–2015)
Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio 2004, 2010 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2004)
Championnat de France Formula Renault 2.0 (2004)
GP2 Series (2010) 		Virgin Racing (2011)
Lotus F1 (2012)
Brazil Lucas di Grassi14 2005–2007 Formula 3 Euro Series (2005)
GP2 Series (2006–2007) 		Virgin Racing (2010)
United Kingdom Ben Hanley14 2006–2008 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2006–2007)
GP2 Series (2008) 		None
Spain Dani Clos14 2007 Formula 3 Euro Series (2007) None
France Nelson Panciatici14 2007 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2007)
Championnat de France Formula Renault 2.0 (2007) 		None
France Charles Pic15 2009 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2009) Marussia (2012)
Caterham (2013)
Denmark Marco Sørensen 2009 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2009)
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2009) 		None
Italy Davide Valsecchi15 2009 GP2 Series (2009) None
Czech Republic Jan Charouz 2010–2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2010–11)
Auto GP (2011) 		None
China Ho-Pin Tung 2010–2011 GP2 Series (2010)
Superleague Formula (2011) 		None
Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy 2011 GP2 Series (2011) None
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.

Lotus F1 (2012–2015)

Driver Years Series competed F1 Team(s)
Estonia Kevin Korjus16 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2012) None
New Zealand Richie Stanaway16 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2012) None
Colombia Óscar Tunjo17 2012–2014 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2012–2013)
Formula Renault 2.0 Alps (2012)
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2013)
Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2014)
GP3 Series (2015) 		None
France Esteban Ocon17 2012–2014 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2012–2013)
Formula Renault 2.0 Alps (2012)
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2013)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2014)
Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2014) 		Manor (2016)
Force India (2017–2018)
Racing Point Force India (2018)
Renault (2020)
Alpine (2021–2024)
Haas (2025–2026)
France Dorian Boccolacci17 2012–2015 Karting (2012–13)
French F4 Championship (2014)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2015) 		None
Switzerland Alex Fontana17 2013–2014 GP3 Series (2013–2014) None
Denmark Marco Sørensen17 2013–2015 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2013–2014)
GP2 Series (2014–2015)
FIA World Endurance Championship (2015) 		None
Thailand Alexander Albon17 2013–2015 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2013–2014)
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2013–2014)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2015) 		Toro Rosso (2019)
Red Bull (2019–2020)
Williams (2022–)
Philippines Marlon Stöckinger17 2013–2015 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2013–2015)
GP2 Series (2015) 		None
South Africa Callan O'Keeffe18 2014 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2014)
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2014) 		None
United Kingdom Gregor Ramsay18 2014 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2014)
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2014) 		None
United States Juan Manuel Correa18 2014–2015 Karting (2014–2015) None
France Matthieu Vaxivière17 2015 Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2015)
Formula Renault 2.0 Alps (2015) 		None
Czech Republic Petr Ptáček19 2015 Karting (2015) None

Renault Sport (2016–2020)

Driver Years Series competed F1 Team(s)
Switzerland Louis Delétraz20 2016 GP2 Series (2016)
Formula V8 3.5 Series (2016) 		None
Switzerland Kevin Jörg20 2016 GP3 Series (2016) None
United Kingdom Oliver Rowland20 2016 GP2 Series (2016) None
United Kingdom Jack Aitken20 2016–2018 GP3 Series (2016–17)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2018) 		Williams (2020)
China Sun Yueyang21 2016–2018 Karting (2016)
Formula Renault Eurocup (2017)
Formula Renault NEC (2017)
BRDC British Formula 3 Championship (2018) 		None
Spain Marta García 2017 Spanish F4 Championship (2017)
SMP F4 Championship (2017) 		None
Netherlands Jarno Opmeer22 2017 Formula Renault Eurocup (2017) None
France Sacha Fenestraz23 2017–2018 Formula Renault Eurocup (2017)
FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2018)
GP3 Series (2018) 		None
United Kingdom Max Fewtrell22 2017–2020 Formula Renault Eurocup (2017–2018)
Formula Renault NEC (2017–18)
FIA Formula 3 Championship (2019–20) 		None
Denmark Christian Lundgaard24 2017–2020 SMP F4 Championship (2017)
F4 Spanish Championship (2017)
Formula Renault Eurocup (2018)
FIA Formula 3 Championship (2019)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2020) 		None
France Arthur Rougier25 2018 Formula Renault Eurocup (2018) None
France Anthoine Hubert26 2018–2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship (2019)note 2 None
France Victor Martins25 2018–2019 Formula Renault Eurocup (2018–2019) None
Italy Leonardo Lorandi28 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup (2019) None
China Yifei Ye29 2019 FIA Formula 3 Championship (2019) None
Brazil Caio Collet30 2019–2020 Formula Renault Eurocup (2019–2020) None
China Guanyu Zhou31 2019–2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship (2019–2020) Alfa Romeo (2022–2023)
Kick Sauber (2024)
France Hadrien David32 2020 Formula Renault Eurocup (2020) None
Australia Oscar Piastri33 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship (2020) McLaren (2023–)34
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.

Alpine F1 (2021–)

Driver Years Series competed F1 Team(s)
Denmark Christian Lundgaard24 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship (2021)
IndyCar Series (2021) 		None
China Guanyu Zhou 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship (2021)
F3 Asian Championship (2021) 		Alfa Romeo (2022–2023)
Kick Sauber (2024)
Brazil Caio Collet 2021–2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship (2021–2022) None
Australia Oscar Piastri33 2021–2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship (2021) McLaren (2023–)
France Victor Martins35 2021–2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship (2021–2022)
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2023–2024) 		None
United Kingdom Olli Caldwell36 2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship (2022) None
France Hadrien David32 2022 Formula Regional European Championship (2022) None
Brazil Matheus Ferreira37 2022–2023 Italian F4 Championship (2023)
F4 Brazilian Championship (2023) 		None
Japan Kean Nakamura-Berta37 2022–2024 Karting (2022–2023)
Formula 4 UAE Championship (2024)
Italian F4 Championship (2024)
Euro 4 Championship (2024) 		None
United Kingdom Abbi Pulling37 2022–2024 W Series (2022)
F1 Academy (2023–2024)
F4 British Championship (2024) 		None
Bulgaria Nikola Tsolov3839 2022–2024 F4 Spanish Championship (2022)
FIA Formula 3 Championship (2023–2024) 		None
United Kingdom Aiden Neate37 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship (2023)
F4 British Championship (2023) 		None
Germany Sophia Flörsch40 2023–2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship (2023–2024) None
Italy Nicola Lacorte41 2024–2025 Formula Regional Oceania Championship (2024)
Formula Regional European Championship (2024)
FIA Formula 3 Championship (2025) 		None
Canada Ilie Tristan Crisan42 2025 Karting (2025) None
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.

Rac(H)er Karting Programme

Driver Years Series competed
Switzerland Chiara Bättig4344 2023 OK Junior Switzerland
Australia Aiva Anagnostiadis9 2023–2024 Australian Kart Championship
Rotax Winter Cup
IAME Euro Serie
France Lisa Billard9 2023–2024 South Garda Winter Cup - OKJ
WSK Super Master Series - OKJ
Championnat de France - Nationale
Champions of the Future - OKJ
CIK-FIA Academy Trophy
Italy Mariachiara Nardelli9 2023–2024 Italian ACI Karting Championship
France Angélina Proenca9 2023–2024 IAME Euro Series
See also

See also

Notes

Notes

  1. Khera was a member of the Rac(H)er Programme beginning in 2023, and graduated to the Alpine Academy in 2025.
  2. Hubert was a member of the Renault Sport Academy when he suffered a fatal crash in the 2019 Belgian F2 Feature Race.27
References

References

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External links