Robert Shwartzman Bio
Robert Mikhailovich Shwartzman (born 16 September 1999) is an Israeli and Russian racing driver who competes in the IndyCar Series. He drives the No. 83 Chevrolet for Prema Racing. Shwartzman is a former member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, and previously served as a reserve driver in Formula One for Ferrari between 2021 and 2024. He is the 2018 Toyota Racing Series champion and the 2019 FIA Formula 3 champion, and earned Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors in 2025.
After a successful junior single-seater career that included a runner-up finish in the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship, Shwartzman transitioned to endurance racing and then to the IndyCar Series. He quickly became a recognizable name in American open-wheel racing by qualifying on pole position for the 2025 Indianapolis 500 as a rookie.
Early Life and Background
Robert Mikhailovich Shwartzman was born on 16 September 1999 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He was raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and later in Italy, giving him an international upbringing that blended Eastern European and Mediterranean influences. His father, Mikhail Shwartzman, was a significant figure in his early life and supported his introduction to motorsport.
Shwartzman began karting in 2004 at the age of four. Over the next seven years, he developed his craft in karting competitions across Europe, with most of his racing taking place in Italy. His success in karting laid the foundation for his transition to single-seater racing, and by his early teens he had already built a reputation as a promising junior talent within European motorsport circles.
Path to NASCAR
Note: Robert Shwartzman has not competed in NASCAR. He built his career in international open-wheel and endurance racing series, including Formula 4, Formula Renault, the Toyota Racing Series, the FIA Formula 3 Championship, the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the IndyCar Series.
Robert Shwartzman Career
Early Career (2014-2016)
Shwartzman graduated to single-seaters in 2014, contesting six races in the Italian F4 Championship with Cram Motorsport and finishing sixteenth overall. In 2015, he ran a full Italian F4 campaign with Mücke Motorsport, claiming three wins and finishing third in the standings behind Prema Powerteam duo Ralf Aron and Guanyu Zhou. He also competed in the inaugural ADAC Formula 4 championship that year, finishing fourth.
In 2016, Shwartzman moved to Formula Renault 2.0 with Josef Kaufmann Racing, taking two victories in the Northern European Cup and finishing eighth in the Eurocup standings. His steady progress through the junior ladder caught the attention of major teams and paved the way for his inclusion in the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Toyota Racing Series Breakthrough (2018)
Shwartzman made his Toyota Racing Series debut during the 2018 off-season with M2 Competition. He finished all fifteen races in the top five, becoming the only driver in the field to do so. He won the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy and the series title, ahead of M2 teammates Richard Verschoor and Marcus Armstrong.
Ferrari Driver Academy and Formula 3 (2017-2019)
After testing with Prema Powerteam in 2017, Shwartzman was added to the Ferrari Driver Academy. He raced for Prema in the 2018 FIA Formula 3 European Championship, claiming his first win at the third Spielberg race and securing the rookie title. In 2019, with the merger of the European F3 and GP3 Series, he joined the inaugural FIA Formula 3 Championship with Prema and won the title at Sochi, becoming the 2019 FIA Formula 3 champion.
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2020-2021)
Shwartzman joined Prema Racing for the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship, partnering Mick Schumacher. During the season, his father died of COVID-19 in April 2020, a personal tragedy that shaped his campaign. Despite the emotional difficulty, Shwartzman recorded four wins, the most of any driver that year, and finished fourth in the standings with 177 points.
In 2021, Shwartzman continued with Prema alongside reigning FIA Formula 3 champion Oscar Piastri. He took two wins and eight podiums across the season, finishing second in the championship with 192 points. He ultimately ended his F2 career as vice-champion, 60.5 points behind Piastri.
Formula One Reserve Role (2021-2024)
Shwartzman served as a test and reserve driver for Ferrari in Formula One. After the FIA banned Russian-flagged competitors following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he competed under the Israeli flag. He participated in multiple free practice sessions for Ferrari and Kick Sauber, including outings at the United States, Abu Dhabi, Dutch, and Mexico City Grands Prix, and completed post-season tests with the team.
Sportscar Racing (2023-2024)
Shwartzman made his sportscar racing debut in 2023, joining AF Corse in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with Nicklas Nielsen and Alessio Rovera. He topped the WEC rookie test in Bahrain driving the Ferrari 499P Hypercar. In 2024, he competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship for AF Corse alongside Yifei Ye and Robert Kubica. The No. 83 crew finished fourth in Qatar, took a win at Lone Star Le Mans, and ended the year ninth in the Hypercar standings.
Prema Racing Era (2025-Present)
On 5 November 2024, it was announced that Shwartzman would compete full-time in the IndyCar Series for Prema Racing in 2025, alongside former Formula 2 rival Callum Ilott. Prema struggled to adapt early, with Shwartzman and Ilott finishing no higher than 18th in the opening five rounds. However, Shwartzman shocked the field by qualifying on pole for the 2025 Indianapolis 500, becoming the first rookie driver to do so since Teo Fabi in 1983, and earning Prema’s first IndyCar pole. He was named Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. He picked up his and Prema’s first top-ten finish in Illinois, and later scored a ninth at Iowa. Shwartzman ended his rookie IndyCar season 24th in the standings, narrowly missing Rookie of the Year honors.
Driving Style and Strengths
Shwartzman is recognized for his smooth, consistent driving style and strong race-craft. He excels at tire management and long-run pace, attributes that helped him dominate the 2020 FIA Formula 2 round at the Hungaroring and produce steady endurance runs at Le Mans. His calm approach and ability to maximize strategy have made him a strong fit for IndyCar’s road and street courses.
Notable Races and Milestones
Shwartzman’s most celebrated moments include his 2018 Toyota Racing Series title, his 2019 FIA Formula 3 championship at Sochi, and his 2025 Indianapolis 500 pole as a rookie. He also earned a memorable Formula 2 victory at the Red Bull Ring in 2020, which he dedicated to his late father after a challenging personal season.
Robert Shwartzman Career Wins
Shwartzman has accumulated championship-caliber success across multiple series, including titles in the Toyota Racing Series, FIA Formula 3, and a runner-up finish in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. His win tally spans karting, Formula 4, Formula Renault, Formula 3, Formula 2, endurance racing, and IndyCar.
Toyota Racing Series and Formula 3 Highlights
Shwartzman won the 2018 Toyota Racing Series championship with M2 Competition, completing a perfect top-five record across all fifteen races. In 2019, he clinched the inaugural FIA Formula 3 Championship title at the Sochi finale, edging out his Prema teammate Jehan Daruvala to secure the crown.
FIA Formula 2 Highlights
Shwartzman won four races in the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship, the highest of any driver that season, and added two more wins in 2021 en route to second place in the standings. His most emotional victory came at the Red Bull Ring, which he dedicated to his father.
Robert Shwartzman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Shwartzman was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, and raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and Italy. His father, Mikhail Shwartzman, played a central role in his early racing journey before passing away in April 2020 from COVID-19 at the age of 52.
Personal Life
Shwartzman currently races under the Israeli flag following the FIA’s 2022 decision to ban Russian-flagged drivers. Outside of racing, he released a rap song titled ‘ACTIVE’ in 2023, reflecting his interest in music.
2025 Season Performance
Shwartzman’s 2025 IndyCar rookie season began with a steep learning curve as Prema Racing adapted to the American open-wheel scene. The opening rounds were difficult, with neither Shwartzman nor teammate Callum Ilott finishing higher than 18th in the first five events. Despite the early struggles, the team gained valuable experience and began to find its footing as the season progressed.
The turning point came at the Indianapolis 500, where Shwartzman delivered one of the most remarkable rookie performances in modern IndyCar history. He qualified on pole position, becoming the first rookie to do so since Teo Fabi in 1983, and earned Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors. He then scored Prema’s first top-ten finish in Illinois and added a ninth-place result at Iowa later in the year.
Shwartzman ended his rookie IndyCar campaign 24th in the final standings, just two points shy of Rookie of the Year winner Louis Foster. With Prema under contract to continue in IndyCar in 2026, Shwartzman’s future remains a topic of interest as the team evaluates its long-term direction in the series.