Ferrari has reshuffled its junior academy lineup for the 2022 racing season. In addition, the Maranello-based outfit has announced that Formula 2 driver Marcus Armstrong will no longer be a member of the academy.

The 21-year-old Kiwi, who has been with the programme since 2017, has been dropped after two luckless years in Formula 2 with French outfits ART Grand Prix and DAMS.

Armstrong’s plans for the 2022 season have yet to be revealed to the public at the time of writing.

Callum Ilott has been placed on a gap year by the academy as he embarks on a stint in Indycar with Juncos Racing whilst Mick Schumacher and Robert Shwartzman will focus on their commitments in Formula 1, with the German remaining at Haas alongside Nikita Mazepin whilst Shwartzman will spend 2022 as Scuderia Ferrari’s test driver.

The academy has also retained the services of Arthur Leclerc, who will remain in Formula 3 with PREMA Powerteam. In addition, Dino Beganovic, Maya Weug and James Wharton will begin their second seasons with the academy. Beganovic will stay in the Formula Regional series whilst Weug and Wharton will remain in Formula 4.

Reigning German and Italian Formula 4 champion Oliver Bearman has been promoted to Formula 3 alongside Leclerc at PREMA, whilst Rafael Camara and Laura Camps Torres, who was selected through the FIA’s Girls on Track-Rising Stars programme, will move up to Formula 4 for their first year of car racing.

Scuderia Ferrari’s team principal Mattia Binotto wished all of the academy members the best of luck for the 2022 season. He also expressed his hope that one of its nine members can follow in the footsteps of FDA alumni Lance Stroll, Sergio Perez, Charles Leclerc and the late Jules Bianchi by making it into Formula 1.

"The 2022 Ferrari Driver Academy intake starts its journey today. It’s always a significant day for the girls and boys involved and also for Scuderia Ferrari, because this programme is an important part of what #essereFerrari means. The FDA’s role is not simply to get the best out of the most talented youngsters and lead them to race our cars in Formula 1, it is also about forming people and drivers who are able to make the most of the values that Scuderia Ferrari represents. This year, seven young men and two young women will work towards their ultimate goal of racing in Formula 1. In 2022, 20% of the F1 grid is made up of past and present FDA students. The dream for them and for us is to do the same as Charles Leclerc, who is about to start his fourth season racing for the Scuderia. I wish each and every one of them the best of luck as they progress through the season."

The head of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Marco Matassa, also echoed Binotto’s words and expressed his best wishes to all nine members.

"For the Ferrari Driver Academy, the start of a new season is a serious moment, even more so this year: with the ongoing pandemic, it’s wonderful to be able to again open the doors of the Gestione Sportiva to our youngsters. We will be looking after nine students and will support them with our experience, helping them to make their way in the ultra-competitive environment of single-seater racing. In 2021, we sowed the seeds, with many of our youngsters tackling their category for the first time and I expect that this year we will see them blossom. We want to see more wins and our drivers fighting for the title in at least two categories. I also want to wish our new intake – Oliver, Rafael and Laura - the very best of luck. They definitely have what it takes and I expect them to confirm the quality of our selection process, based on partnerships with ACI, Tony Kart, Escuderia Telmex and Motorsport Australia, as well as the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission’s Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme which we believe in strongly."