Callum Ilott is set to make his return to IndyCar in 2025, signing with Prema Racing as the team embarks on its debut season in the championship. The former Ferrari junior and ex-Alfa Romeo test and development driver had previously competed in IndyCar with Juncos Hollinger Racing before a turbulent departure at the end of 2023. Now, after a successful stint in the World Endurance Championship, Ilott has secured another chance in the series with a team he knows well.
Fastest Formula News exclusively spoke to Callum Ilott about signing with Prema and the 2025 season.
A familiar partnership rekindled
Callum Ilott’s ties with Prema date back to 2017 when he competed in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship. Racing against the likes of Lando Norris, he claimed six victories and 11 podium finishes, finishing fourth in the standings. Though his path led him through GP3, Formula 2—where he was runner-up to Mick Schumacher in 2020—and into sportscar racing, his strong relationship with Prema made him a prime candidate when the team announced its expansion into IndyCar.
“I think part of the reason is Prema and part of the reason is IndyCar,” Ilott told Fastest Formula News. “Look, I enjoyed my year in endurance racing. It was good fun and a lot of new challenges, but IndyCar was where I kind of started to build my career, and it got cut short a little bit. It was somewhere that I really enjoyed and really wanted to return to.”
“Then combine that with Prema, who I raced with in Formula 3, had competed against in many series up till 2020 and always kept in touch with—always a great team to be around and be a part of. And yeah, this new opportunity came about. It’s a brand-new start, lots and lots of work, but a lot of excitement, and yeah, it just felt natural to kind of come back to IndyCar and come back to Prema to reunite for this.”
A rollercoaster journey in IndyCar
Ilott first arrived in IndyCar in 2021 with Juncos Hollinger Racing, a team making its full-time return to the series. Despite limited resources and no technical alliance, he impressed with flashes of brilliance. A front-row start at Laguna Seca in 2022 and two top-five finishes in 2023 demonstrated his potential, but his time at Juncos was far from smooth.
The 2023 season was particularly turbulent. After an early season clash with teammate Agustín Canapino led to unjust criticism and even online abuse, tensions within the team seemed to mount. At the Indianapolis 500, Ilott struggled with an ill-handling car, only for a late switch to a backup chassis to prove him right—he went on to secure the team’s best-ever finish at the event. His departure at the end of the season felt inevitable, as Juncos’ struggles with expanding to a two-car operation left Ilott without the competitive environment he needed to progress.
Making his mark elsewhere
With limited IndyCar opportunities available, Ilott turned his attention to sportscar racing in 2024, competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Jota in a Porsche 963 Hypercar. He quickly made an impact, claiming victory at the Spa 6 Hours. However, when Arrow McLaren needed a substitute for the injured David Malukas, Ilott returned to IndyCar for select races, finishing a commendable 11th in both St. Petersburg and the Indianapolis 500. His strong performances reinforced the notion that he belonged in the series full-time.
Why Callum Ilott is the right choice for Prema
Prema’s decision to sign Ilott is not simply a matter of past associations—it’s a strategic move. The Italian outfit, entering IndyCar without a technical partnership, is building its programme from the ground up, much like Juncos did. Ilott is one of the few drivers available with direct experience in such an environment, making him an ideal choice to lead Prema’s charge in its debut season.
“We’re going to keep improving,” Ilott said. “I don’t know really where we’re going to hit the ground running from in terms of position. We had a good test at Thermal. The speed was relatively competitive compared to Andretti, but there’s a lot more than just pure speed in IndyCar. It’s very versatile, lots of different tracks. You’ve always got to keep adapting and it’s never going to be simple.”
Ilott also spoke about the team’s ambitions, saying, “In terms of results, I think as a team, it would be very, very nice to be consistent, be scoring good points and show our speed in qualifying and beyond into the race. But from my side, again, it’s to limit mistakes, improve throughout the year, build the best team we can around us as drivers and keep improving. I think the results will come, whether it’s now or later.”
Bringing valuable experience to Prema
Ilott believes his diverse racing background will be a key asset for Prema in its debut season. When asked about the experience he brings to the team, he said, “I think a mix. What’s exciting about me and Robert is we’ve obviously done Formula 2, we’ve done Formula 3.”
“We’ve been brought up in the same Formula 1 team and learned a lot about the developmental side of cars and how to make them better, whether it’s on a simulator or in real life.”
“And I ventured off to IndyCar obviously a bit earlier. He stayed on the endurance route for longer with longer involvement on the F1 side. And I think from my side to add on to that, I built up with a brand-new team as well.”
“There was a lot of development starting from zero. It’s a lot of discovery. And then I also got the experience for a couple of races last year with McLaren and being able to see how a smaller team does it and a fairly larger team does it and get the experience on an oval, on a road course, on a street circuit at both those sides.”
“I think that’s super valuable to bring to a completely brand-new team. But what’s different about Prema is everything starting from scratch. There’s nothing that’s pre-made.”
“I think a good example is whenever we’re looking for something, and we need to make it, we don’t have it in storage. There are no parts areas. Everything is built up from the ground.”
“And it’s exciting. There’s a lot of stuff you can create, but it’s a lot of time as well. So everyone back at the shop is working super hard to have everything ready.”
Unfinished business in IndyCar
Ilott’s return feels like a redemption arc. His previous IndyCar stint ended on terms that did not reflect his ability, and his performances with McLaren only reinforced that he should never have been out of the series to begin with. Now, with a team that believes in him and a project built with long-term ambitions, Ilott has the perfect platform to show what he is truly capable of. For Prema, securing a driver of his calibre is a statement of intent—one that could set the foundation for a successful future in IndyCar.
Reflecting on the team’s preparations, Ilott expressed his optimism, “I was impressed from the beginning when I met with all the founders—Rene, Angelina, Pierce, and Graham in the US—and everything that was said is either already there or being put in motion. And there’s a good reaction.”
“It’s very impressive. I mean, physically, the shop is very impressive. The cars look great. The trucks are awesome. A lot on that side is good. But to be able to then hit the ground in our first test and be on a competitive side with the cars is super impressive as well.”
What’s in store for Callum Illot and Prema?
As the 2025 season approaches, Ilott remains focused on what lies ahead. When asked about what he believes is a good result for St. Petersburg, he said, “I don’t want to put a number on it, but I think qualifying.”
“So you have the top four teams, you have Penske, Ganassi, McLaren and Andretti, and they cover the top 12. You also have then two other teams that have partnerships with those teams and that takes up the top 16. I think if you can break into that in qualifying and the race, you’ve done a very good job because those guys have been around for a long, long time.”
With a fresh start, an ambitious team, and a renewed sense of purpose, Callum Ilott’s IndyCar return with Prema Racing is one of the most intriguing storylines heading into 2025.
