The Ferrari Driver Academy version 2011

The academy set up by the Italian manufacturer has reviewed its workforce for 2011. The two Italian drivers, Mirko Bortolotti and Daniel Zampieri, will no longer be part of the adventure. There Ferrari Driver Academy preferred to take Nicolas Costa, a young Brazilian driver aged 19.

However, Mirko Bortolotti had had a good run so far with the Italian academy. The Italian won the 2008 Championship F3 Italia and became a test driver for Scuderia Ferrari the same year, before moving to Toro Rosso for the same position the following season. After a season spent in F2, where he finished in fourth place in the standings, Mirko Bortolotti joined the Addax team in the GP3 Series. Author of only one podium in 16 races, the Italian ended the season in 11th place in the Championship.

Daniel Zampieri has a similar background to that of Mirko Bortolotti. After several seasons spent in Formula championships Renault 2.0, the Roman also won the F3 Italia Championship (in 2009, the season following Mirko Bortolotti's coronation) and served as a test driver for the Scuderia the same year. But his 2010 season in Formula Renault 3.5 Series was not convincing. The Pons Racing team driver could do no better than a mediocre ninth place in the general classification, only reaching the podium twice in 17 races.

The Ferrari Driver Academy therefore decided to dismiss the two Italians and focused on a young driver unknown for the moment, Nicolas Costa, who managed to stand out by winning the Brazilian Formula Future Fiat Championship. Following the exclusion of Mirko Bortolotti and Daniel Zampieri and the arrival of Nicolas Costa, the Ferrari Driver Academy manages the careers of six aspiring drivers: Jules Bianchi, Sergio Perez (Sauber driver in 2011), Brandon Maisano, Raffaele Marciello and Lance stroll.