Prema Racing has completed its driver lineup for its maiden NTT IndyCar Series season with the addition of Robert Shwartzman, the team announced Tuesday morning.
Reuniting with the Prema family after a successful stint in Endurance racing, the 25-year-old Israeli will return to single-seaters, completing the team’s Chevrolet-powered effort for the upcoming season alongside IndyCar Series veteran Callum Ilott.
“I’m definitely very very excited to be back at Prema to start a new adventure in IndyCar,” Shwartzman said. “Everything will be new to us and there will be many challenges, but it will also be a lot of fun and a lot of work at the same time. I think a very successful future lies ahead for us. IndyCar is a very competitive series, with so many strong drivers, and I’m looking forward to the racing, as it looks really cool.
“I have never driven on ovals and to master them, it will be a completely new challenge. However, with Prema we achieved a lot in the past, and I think that my F-1 and Endurance experience will be helpful to make us evolve fast and get up to speed quickly.”
Shwartzman joined Prema for the first time in 2018, claiming third place in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and ending up as the top rookie of that year, to which he added the Toyota Racing Series title. In 2019, he cruised to the inaugural FIA Formula 3 Championship title of the new era, kicking off Prema’s dominant form in the series.
He stayed with the team for his jump to the FIA Formula 2 Championship, where he achieved six wins and 14 podium finishes in two seasons, becoming vice-champion in 2021. He made his Formula 1 testing debut in 2020 with Scuderia Ferrari, continuing to test with the Italian squad and Haas F-1 Team the following year.
“We are extremely delighted to welcome Robert back to the Prema family,” Rene Rosin, team owner, Prema Racing said. “We have had some exceptional seasons together, winning a lot of races and the 2019 FIA F3 title, and we also thoroughly enjoyed working with him.
“He is an extremely talented driver and I think that, by working together, we will be able to overcome the steep learning curve that lies ahead of us. I cannot wait to see him and Callum compete under the Prema banner again.”
In 2022, he was appointed as a test driver by Scuderia Ferrari and made several Formula 1 testing and free practice appearances, while also performing simulator duties. In 2023, after joining the Italian manufacturer’s F-1 reserve driver pool, he entered the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, securing one win.
For 2024, he was confirmed as a reserve driver in Formula 1, and made his prototype racing debut, driving a Ferrari 499P in the FIA World Endurance Championship. After taking part in his maiden Le Mans 24 Hours, he delivered a memorable win at the Lone Star Le Mans in Austin, Texas.