Robert Shwartzman Bio
Robert Mikhailovich Shwartzman (born 16 September 1999) is an Israeli and Russian racing driver who competes in the IndyCar Series, driving the No. 83 Chevrolet for Prema Racing. A graduate of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Shwartzman previously raced in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, where he finished second overall in 2021, and is also a former Toyota Racing Series and FIA Formula 3 champion. After serving as a reserve driver in Formula One, he transitioned to American open-wheel racing and made an immediate impression in 2025 by capturing Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors.
Early Life and Background
Robert 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 European and Middle Eastern roots. His father, Mikhail Shwartzman, played an influential role in his early life and supported his introduction to motorsport. The family settled in Italy as Robert’s racing career began to take shape, and he has been based there for most of his developmental years.
Shwartzman began karting in 2004 at the age of four, and over the next seven years he built a strong foundation in the sport. During that span he claimed multiple karting titles across Europe, with most of his success coming on Italian circuits. His consistent results in junior categories helped him earn a place in single-seater racing and set the stage for a rapid climb through the motorsport ladder.
Path to NASCAR
Shwartzman’s progression followed the traditional European open-wheel pathway rather than the stock-car ladder typically associated with NASCAR. After karting, he graduated to Formula 4 in 2014 and quickly moved through Italian F4, Formula Renault 2.0, the Toyota Racing Series, and FIA Formula 3. His standout results, including the 2018 Toyota Racing Series title and the 2019 FIA Formula 3 championship, established him as one of the top young talents in single-seater racing and led to his appointment with the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Robert Shwartzman Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
Shwartzman stepped into single-seater racing in 2014, contesting six Italian F4 Championship rounds with Cram Motorsport and finishing sixteenth overall. The following year he raced full-time with Mücke Motorsport, claiming three wins and finishing third in the Italian F4 standings. He also competed in the inaugural ADAC Formula 4 championship, where six consecutive podiums helped him to fourth in the standings.
In 2016, Shwartzman moved to Formula Renault 2.0 with Josef Kaufmann Racing, taking two wins in the Northern European Cup and finishing sixth overall. He stayed in the category in 2017 with R-ace GP, where he scored six victories and ended the Eurocup season third in the standings. These results drew the attention of top junior teams and paved the way for his Formula 3 opportunity.
Formula 3 Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Shwartzman’s single-seater breakthrough came in 2018, when he raced for Prema Powerteam in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. He took his first European F3 win at the third Spielberg race and added a second victory in the season finale, which secured him the rookie title and third place overall in the standings.
In 2019, Shwartzman competed in the inaugural FIA Formula 3 Championship with Prema. He won the opening Barcelona race after being promoted due to a time penalty for another driver and added further victories at Paul Ricard and Monza. He entered the Sochi finale with a healthy points lead and secured the championship ahead of Jehan Daruvala, 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. He opened his campaign with a podium on debut at the Red Bull Ring and went on to take four feature-race wins during the season, the most of any driver that year. His results, combined with consistent points finishes, saw him end 2020 fourth in the standings with 177 points.
He continued with Prema in 2021 alongside reigning FIA Formula 3 champion Oscar Piastri. Shwartzman won twice, at Baku and Silverstone, and added multiple podiums to mount a strong title challenge. Heading into the Abu Dhabi finale, he trailed Piastri in the standings, and once Piastri secured the crown, Shwartzman was confirmed as the 2021 vice-champion with 192 points.
Formula One Reserve Role (2021–2024)
Shwartzman served as a reserve driver for Ferrari between 2021 and 2024. He took part in two Free Practice 1 sessions during the 2022 season, at the United States Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and completed further free practice outings at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix and the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In 2024 he drove in practice sessions with Kick Sauber at the Dutch and Mexico City Grands Prix before leaving Ferrari to pursue a full-time IndyCar seat.
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, partnering former Formula 2 rival Callum Ilott. Prema struggled to adapt to IndyCar at the start of the season, and Shwartzman finished no higher than eighteenth in the first five rounds. He then stunned the field by qualifying on pole position for the 2025 Indianapolis 500, becoming the first rookie to do so since Teo Fabi in 1983 and earning Prema its first IndyCar pole.
His Indianapolis 500 race ended in disappointment when he crashed in the pit lane on lap 87, but his overall performance was strong enough to earn him Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors. He picked up Prema’s first top-ten finish in Illinois two races later and added a best result of ninth at Iowa later in the year. Shwartzman ended his rookie IndyCar season twenty-fourth in the standings, seven points behind teammate Ilott. He is under contract with Prema into 2026, although the team’s future in IndyCar remains uncertain.
Notable Races and Milestones
Shwartzman’s 2025 Indianapolis 500 pole position stands as the headline result of his career to date and one of the most memorable rookie achievements in recent IndyCar history. Earlier milestones include his 2018 Toyota Racing Series title, his 2019 FIA Formula 3 crown, and his four victories during the 2020 FIA Formula 2 season. He also set the fastest time at the 2024 Berlin Formula E rookie test with DS Penske and at the WEC Bahrain rookie test with AF Corse.
Robert Shwartzman Career Wins
Across single-seaters, sportscar racing, and open-wheel competition, Robert Shwartzman has built a record that includes a Toyota Racing Series title in 2018, the FIA Formula 3 championship in 2019, four FIA Formula 2 wins, two more F2 victories the following year, and a Lone Star Le Mans victory during the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship. In IndyCar, he is yet to record a race win but has already achieved a pole position at the Indianapolis 500 in his rookie season.
IndyCar Highlights
Shwartzman’s signature IndyCar moment came in May 2025, when he captured pole position for the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie. The performance was the first IndyCar pole for Prema Racing and marked him as the first rookie Indy 500 polesitter since Teo Fabi in 1983. Although his race ended with a crash in pit lane, he was named Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and went on to record a best finish of ninth at Iowa later in the season.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside IndyCar, Shwartzman won the 2018 Toyota Racing Series with M2 Competition and dominated the 2019 FIA Formula 3 season with Prema Powerteam. In 2024, he shared a victory in the Lone Star Le Mans round of the FIA World Endurance Championship with AF Corse teammates Yifei Ye and Robert Kubica in the No. 83 Ferrari 499P.
Robert Shwartzman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Shwartzman was raised in a Russian-Israeli household, with his family originally connected to Tel Aviv and Saint Petersburg. His father, Mikhail Shwartzman, supported his early motorsport efforts before passing away in April 2020 at the age of 52. Robert has often credited his father with shaping his work ethic and dedication to racing.
Personal Life
Shwartzman was raised in part in Italy and has spent much of his adult life in Europe before relocating to North America for his IndyCar program. In 2023, he released a rap song titled “ACTIVE,” reflecting his interests outside the cockpit. He continues to compete under the Israeli flag following the FIA’s 2022 ban on Russian-licensed drivers.
2025 Season Performance
Robert Shwartzman’s 2025 IndyCar rookie campaign began with a steep learning curve, as he and Prema teammate Callum Ilott failed to finish inside the top twenty in the opening five rounds. The team worked to find pace on a range of circuit types, with Shwartzman focused on adapting to ovals, road courses, and street circuits alike. Despite the slow start, his qualifying speed remained a clear strength, particularly on aerodynamic setups at intermediate and high-speed tracks.
The turning point of his season came at the Indianapolis 500, where he captured pole position as a rookie, the first driver to do so since Teo Fabi in 1983. Although his race ended early with a pit-lane crash, he was named Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. He followed that with Prema’s first top-ten finish in Illinois and added a season-best ninth place at Iowa later in the summer, finishing the year twenty-fourth in the standings, just seven points behind Ilott.
Heading into 2026, Shwartzman remains under contract with Prema, although the team’s commitment to a continued IndyCar program is not yet confirmed. His strong qualifying form and pace on ovals have been highlighted by IndyCar president Doug Boles as a positive storyline for the series. With another year of adaptation ahead, Shwartzman will look to convert his qualifying speed into race results and challenge for his first IndyCar victory.
