McLaren has recruited Sérgio Sette Câmara to its Young Driver Programme, and he will act as its test and development driver in 2019.
Sette Câmara, 20, has raced in Formula 2 since 2017, switching from MP Motorsport to Carlin for 2018, and holds sixth in this year’s championship, despite missing one round through injury.
The Brazilian will in effect replace current Formula 2 team-mate Lando Norris in the role, with the British youngster stepping up to a McLaren race seat in 2019.
Sette Câmara was previously part of Red Bull’s young driver programme and had a taste of Formula 1 machinery with Toro Rosso during the mid-2016 test at Silverstone.
McLaren has this year picked up sponsorship from Brazilian oil company Petrobras and next year the organisation will increase its involvement, becoming its fuel supplier.
“It’s my dream to one day become a Formula 1 driver, and I’d like to thank McLaren for giving me this incredible opportunity,” he said.
“My aim is to integrate myself in the team and work as closely with them as possible; to listen, learn and help to develop as a driver, as well as support McLaren.”
Sette Câmara could be in line for in-season test outings in the MCL34, with McLaren requiring a young driver to fill the required quota, now that 2017/18 participant Norris will be ineligible.
2018 has marked the first season without Brazilian representation on the Formula 1 grid since the early 1970s, in the wake of Felipe Massa’s retirement.
Sette Câmara is one of only two Brazilians racing on Formula 1’s single-seater support package, with the other being Pedro Piquet – son of three-time champion Nelson – who holds sixth in the GP3 standings.
Fellow Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi, who has competed in WEC, Super Formula and IndyCar in a campaign interrupted by injury, has been linked to an F1 outing with Haas at the post-season Abu Dhabi test.
