The concept for the Ferrari Driver Academy originated from the coaching and management of Felipe Massa within the Ferrari organization. During his tenure under contract with Ferrari, the Brazilian driver was loaned to Sauber for three seasons to gain experience. This model of internal development led to the formal establishment of the Academy, with Jules Bianchi becoming the first official recruit in December 2009. In March 2010, the program expanded to include Mirko Bortolotti, Daniel Zampieri, and Raffaele Marciello.
The Academy achieved its first Formula One graduation through Sergio Pérez. The Mexican driver was confirmed as a member in late 2010, shortly after he had signed to drive for the Ferrari-powered Sauber team. Pérez remained with the program until 2013, when he departed to join McLaren.
Jules Bianchi also progressed to Formula One while maintaining his membership, competing for the Ferrari-powered Marussia team. However, his tenure ended in July 2015 following his death from injuries sustained at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
Following a period of rumored disbandment, the program was expanded under the leadership of Massimo Rivola. In June 2015, Antonio Fuoco conducted his first Formula One test with Ferrari at the Red Bull Ring. The Academy’s recruitment intensified in 2016 with the induction of Charles Leclerc, followed by Enzo Fittipaldi and Marcus Armstrong. By late 2017, the roster grew to include Callum Ilott, Robert Shwartzman, and Gianluca Petecof.
In 2019, the Academy signed Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher. That same year marked a significant milestone for the program when Charles Leclerc became the first Academy member to graduate directly to the Scuderia Ferrari race team.
Success continued into 2020 as Mick Schumacher won the Formula 2 Championship, earning a promotion to Formula One with Haas F1. His Academy peer Callum Ilott finished as the Formula 2 runner-up and was subsequently appointed as a test and reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari.
The program has seen various departures due to both professional transitions and internal friction. Lance Stroll left the Academy to join Williams for the 2017 season. Raffaele Marciello’s exit was more contentious; while officially cited as personal reasons, Marciello later claimed he was removed because Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene "just didn't like" him.
In recent years, the Academy has diversified its recruitment. In January 2021, 16-year-old Maya Weug became the first female driver to join the program. This was followed by the signing of Laura Camps Torras through the Girls On Track – Rising Stars competition. In 2024, the program secured another Formula One graduation when Haas F1 signed Academy member Oliver Bearman on a multi-year contract starting in 2025.
The Academy's effectiveness is measured by its ability to place drivers in Formula One seats. Graduates who reached the top tier with Ferrari's direct support include Jules Bianchi, Antonio Fuoco, Charles Leclerc, Mick Schumacher, and Oliver Bearman. Other drivers, such as Sergio Pérez, Lance Stroll, and Zhou Guanyu, participated in the program before entering Formula One through other means or teams.
In 2019, the organization expanded into digital competition by establishing the FDA Esports Team for the Formula One Esports Series. The team found immediate success when David Tonizza won the drivers' championship in their debut year.
Subsequent seasons proved more challenging. In 2020, the team recorded only two wins, both by Tonizza. Despite signing two-time Esports champion Brendon Leigh from Mercedes in 2021, the team finished fourth in the standings. The 2022 season, featuring a lineup of Leigh, Tonizza, and Fabrizio Donoso, resulted in a seventh-place finish in the team standings, marking the program's lowest statistical performance in the series.