Ferrari signs 11-year-old Canadian to their Driving Academy

Lance Stroll, who is an 11-year-old karting champion in Canada, was enrolled in the Ferrari Driving Academy in Maranello, Italy, in an announcement made just before the start of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix. Stroll becomes the youngest driver ever to be enrolled in the academy.

"We are pleased to welcome Lance to our group. He is very young, but he has already shown in karting that he is exceptionally talented," said Luca Baldisserri, head of the Ferrari Driving Academy. Montreal-born Stroll has already amassed several karting championships, including the Canadian Rotax Mini Max championship, the Rotax Mini Max Florida Winter Tour and other Micro Max victories.

The Ferrari Formula One team was present at an indoor karting race organized by the team in Montreal, and Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa took part in the friendly race alongside their new recruit Stroll. Alonso finished first, ahead of Stroll in second and Massa third.