Max Esterson Bio
Maxwell Esterson, known professionally as Max Esterson, is an American racing driver born on October 9, 2002, in New York City. He is recognized for his achievements in both sim racing and single-seater motorsport, having most recently competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Trident. Esterson built an early reputation as one of the top sim racers in the world before transitioning to real-world circuit racing, where he progressed through Formula Ford, the GB3 Championship, and the FIA Formula 3 Championship.
Throughout his career, Esterson has competed in a wide range of categories, including the F1600 Championship Series, the F2000 Championship Series, the BRSCC National Formula Ford Championship, GB3, FIA Formula 3, and FIA Formula 2. He has also made a sportscar debut in the IMSA SportsCar Championship at Petit Le Mans with JDC-Miller MotorSports, driving a Porsche 963. His journey from virtual competition to international open-wheel racing has made him a notable figure among the new generation of American motorsport talents.
Early Life and Background
Max Esterson was born and raised in New York City, where he attended the Allen-Stevenson School. He later enrolled at Regis High School, graduating in 2021. Growing up in a city with limited access to grassroots motorsport facilities, Esterson developed his earliest racing skills through sim racing rather than on physical karting tracks, a path that would shape his future career.
His older brother, Hugh, is also a racing driver, establishing a clear family connection to motorsport. Esterson’s competitive nature showed at a young age, and by 11 years old, he was already competing on iRacing, one of the most respected sim racing platforms in the world. This early immersion in virtual competition provided him with a strong foundation in race craft, car control, and circuit knowledge that would later prove invaluable as he transitioned to real-world racing.
Path to NASCAR
Max Esterson’s career path has not included NASCAR national series competition, and verified information regarding a documented move into NASCAR stock car racing is not available. The driver’s documented professional journey has been centered on open-wheel and prototype racing, progressing from Formula Ford through GB3, FIA Formula 3, FIA Formula 2, and into IMSA sportscar competition.
Max Esterson Career
Early Career (2019-2021)
Esterson began his physical racing career late compared to many competitors, starting karting at almost 16 years old. In 2019, he contested his first partial season in karting at Oakland Valley Race Park, competing with McAleer Racing. This brief karting stint served as a stepping stone toward his single-seater ambitions.
Esterson made his single-seater racing debut in 2020, competing in the F1600 Championship Series with Team Pelfrey. He scored one victory and finished the season fifth overall. He also entered a single F2000 Championship Series race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, which he won while setting the track record. Later that year, he debuted at the Formula Ford Festival and the Walter Hayes Trophy with Low Dempsey Racing, qualifying second in his heat at the Festival and finishing sixth in the Grand Final. In 2021, he competed in the BRSCC Avon Tyres National Formula Ford Championship for Low Dempsey Racing, scoring two wins and finishing third in the standings, before winning the 2021 Walter Hayes Trophy as part of the Team USA Scholarship.
GB3 Championship Breakthrough (2022-2023)
Esterson progressed to the GB3 Championship in 2022 with Douglas Motorsport, partnering teammates Tommy Smith and Marcos Flack. He scored his first top-ten finish in Race 3 at Oulton Park, then added a pair of fourth places at Silverstone. The third round at Donington Park became his most successful, as he achieved his maiden podium in Race 1 and won Race 2 from pole position, securing his first victory in slicks-and-wings machinery. He concluded the season seventh in the standings.
In 2023, Esterson moved to Fortec Motorsports for the GB3 Championship. The season was marked by mechanical misfortune, including multiple engine and electrical failures, despite flashes of strong pace. His standout recovery came at the second Silverstone round, where he climbed from 18th on the grid to 10th and 9th in the first two races. He scored his only podium of the year with third place at Donington Park, finishing the season 11th overall, four places lower than his previous year.
FIA Formula 3 Era (2023-2024)
Esterson entered the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2023, initially joining Rodin Carlin mid-season to replace Hunter Yeany at Silverstone and Budapest, where his best finish was 18th. Classified 35th in the final standings, he joined Jenzer Motorsport for post-season testing and also competed at the Macau Grand Prix with Jenzer.
In 2024, Esterson committed to a full-time FIA Formula 3 campaign with Jenzer Motorsport. He impressed at the Sakhir Sprint Race by qualifying tenth and holding off Gabriele Minì for sixth place. He scored one additional points finish with seventh at the Spa-Francorchamps feature race, and qualified second in wet conditions at Silverstone. He ended the season 21st overall, the highest of all Jenzer drivers.
Trident Era (2024-2025)
At the end of 2024, Esterson was confirmed to make his Formula 2 debut with Trident for the final two rounds of the season, replacing Richard Verschoor. He then continued with Trident for the 2025 Formula 2 season alongside Sami Meguetounif. After failing to score points across the campaign, both parties parted ways prior to the Baku round, with Formula 3 graduates Martinius Stenshorne and Laurens van Hoepen taking over the seats.
Driving Style and Strengths
Esterson’s early immersion in sim racing has given him a strong technical understanding of car behavior, braking points, and race strategy, often translating into strong qualifying performances. He has shown particular skill in wet-weather conditions, highlighted by his second-place qualifying effort at Silverstone. His ability to recover from poor grid positions, demonstrated multiple times in GB3, has become a defining feature of his race craft.
Notable Races and Milestones
Esterson’s signature results include his 2021 Walter Hayes Trophy victory with Team USA Scholarship and his dominant 2022 Formula Ford Festival win, where he led every lap before the race was shortened by weather. His recovery drives at Silverstone in GB3 and his sportscar debut at Petit Le Mans with JDC-Miller MotorSports mark him as a versatile competitor across formulas and prototypes.
Max Esterson Career Wins
Esterson has accumulated victories across multiple categories during his career, spanning karting, Formula Ford, GB3, and the F2000 Championship Series. His wins in slicks-and-wings machinery began with his maiden GB3 victory at Donington Park in 2022, and his Walter Hayes Trophy success in 2021 highlighted his early form in Formula Ford.
GB3 Championship Highlights
Esterson scored one GB3 race victory during his career, taking the win in Race 2 at Donington Park in 2022 from pole position while driving for Douglas Motorsport. He added a podium at Donington Park in 2023 with Fortec Motorsports, finishing third in Race 2. His GB3 tenure included consistently strong qualifying pace, though mechanical issues in 2023 limited his results.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond GB3, Esterson secured one F1600 victory in 2020, one F2000 Championship Series win at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, two BRSCC National Formula Ford Championship wins in 2021, the 2021 Walter Hayes Trophy, and the 2022 Formula Ford Festival. He was also the 2020 Formula Race Promotions iRacing Challenge champion and the 2021 Road to Indy TireRack.com eSeries winner, and finished seventh in the 2019 VRS Pro GT Championship on iRacing.
Max Esterson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Max Esterson comes from a family with a clear connection to motorsport, as his older brother Hugh is also a racing driver. The brothers share a New York City upbringing, though Max’s own path into the sport was unique due to his early focus on sim racing rather than karting.
Personal Life
Esterson continues to be recognized as an American racing driver whose professional base has been shaped by his New York roots. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he tutored several drivers on iRacing, including Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon and endurance racer Richard Westbrook, reflecting his respected standing within the sim racing community.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Esterson enter his first full FIA Formula 2 campaign with Trident, partnered alongside Sami Meguetounif. The pair faced significant challenges throughout the year, with Esterson ultimately failing to register any points finishes across the rounds leading up to the team’s decision to part ways.
Prior to the Baku round, Trident and Esterson mutually agreed to end their collaboration, citing the lack of points as a key factor. The seats were filled by Formula 3 graduates Martinius Stenshorne and Laurens van Hoepen, opening the door for Esterson’s next move in the sportscar ranks.
Following his Formula 2 exit, Esterson was confirmed to make his sportscar racing debut in the top class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, driving a Porsche 963 for JDC-Miller MotorSports at Petit Le Mans. He described the event as a test given his limited sportscar experience, signaling a potential long-term transition into prototype racing as a key part of his career outlook.