Clément Novalak Bio: Family, Parents, License, Crashes, Controversy, Net Worth
Clément Novalak is a French-Swiss racing driver best known for winning the 2019 British F3 Championship with Carlin. He now competes for Trident Racing in the 2023 Formula 2 Championship.
Novalak started karting at the age of 10, competing all around Europe, including France, Italy, Sweden, and the UK.
In 2018, he became part of several single-seater championships like the Toyota Racing Series, Formula Renault Eurocup, and the British Formula 3.
With an impressive performance, he won the BRDC British F3 Championship the following season.
He then joined the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2020 with Carlin for the post-season test at Valencia.
A year later, he signed with Trident Racing for the 2021 season, driving alongside teammates Jack Doohan and David Schumacher.
By the end of the year, he had shifted gears to the FIA Formula 2 Championship, replacing Lirim Zendeli for the 2021 season with MP Motorsports.
In 2022, he partnered with Felipe Drugovich and ended the season with the team’s title and driver’s standings at 14th.
The 23 years then reunited with Trident Racing for the 2023 season, driving alongside Czech rookie Roman Stanek.
Clément Novalak’s Father Introduced Him To Motorsports
Novalak was born on December 23, 2000, in the French city of Avignon to a French father, Michael Novalak, and a Swish mother.
Unfortunately, his father passed away in 2017. As a tribute, he added his late father’s birthday to his helmet in Roman numbers in 2018.
His father, a former racing driver in the Cilo Cup-France, introduced him to motorsports and passed on the racing passion to his son.
Clément Novalak’s Childhood: From France To The UK
Novalaka was raised alongside his younger brother, whose identity remains confined.
Though born in France, he spent most of his childhood days in Montreux, Switzerland, as his family moved from Avignon when he was young.
The family then immigrated to Hertfordshire in the UK during his teens.
He and his younger brother joined a boarding school called Haileybury, embracing life fully in England.
Before the family moved there, his parents had always insisted him to learn two languages, French and English.
“I think that it was a critical advantage that my parents always wanted me to speak English from a very young age. Because of that, ever since I was eight, I went to a British school in Switzerland.
“It has helped me a lot with the racing, and everything else to be honest, to speak another language – we were speaking primarily French at home.”
Which License Does Clément Novalak Use?
Novalaka previously held a Swiss license at the start of his racing career.
With the number of years he lived in Switzerland, it was evident that he drove with a Swiss license.
However, since he shifted to the UK in 2014, he was compelled to take a British license in 2020. Therefore, he canceled his Swiss license and moved to the British one.
As per Novalaka, he was not allowed to use the license by the government because he had permanently left Switzerland.
Soon after receiving a British license, he switched to French before the 2021 campaign.
As a racing driver, he was proud to represent the country he was from, so he opted for a French one.
“I am French born and I have always felt like it is my home. A lot of people asked me why I changed this year and for me, it was a natural step to take because I was born in France, and the further you go up the ladder, the more you’re representing your country. The change was in line with what I wanted to do now that I am on an international stage.”
However, he credits his move to the UK and the British license, which has taught him his whole professional life around racing.
Crashes
- Clément Novalak Collided With Swiss Racing Driver Ralph Boschung
In the 2023 Budapest FIA Formula 2 round held at the Hungaroiring, Mogyorod, Hungary, Novalak received a five-place grid penalty. The decision came after the French driver was held solely responsible for a collision with Swiss racing driver Ralph Boschung.
At Turn 1, the Trident driver attempted to pass Boschung when he experienced a rear brake lock-up, resulting in losing control of his vehicle.
This led to a collision between his front left side and the Swish driver’s right rear side, causing Boschung to come to a halt in the run-off area and retire.
Consequently, Novalak had to commence the Feature Race from the 20th position on the grid, even though he initially qualified in the 15th position.
- Clément Novalak & Monegasque Racing Driver Arthur Leclerc Crash
During the Formula 3 race in Austria in July 2021, Novalak and Monegasque racing driver Arthur Leclerc were involved in a harrowing collision.
When Leclerc was in the process of attempting to pass Victor Maryins on his approach to Turn 4, he made an inside move.
As the gap between the two narrowed, Leclerc found himself off balance, losing control of his car, and ended up in the grass.
Leclerc lost his front wing across the corner’s apex, making contact with Novalak at a significant speed.
- Clément Novalak Crash At The Red Bull Rung
Novalak collided with Italian-Argentine driver Matteo Nannini during the 2021 Spielberg Formula 3 third event at the Red Bull Rung.
In the closing stages of the first sprint race, the two were battling hard for the lead when they eventually collided.
Controversy
- Clément Novalak Disqualified From The Formula 2 Sprint Race
Following a thorough post-race inspection in July 2023, it was revealed that the Trident driver had violated Article 12.9 of the Technical Regulations.
The Stewards determined that the rear tire pressures on the car were below the mandated limit.
Therefore, Novalak was ruled out from the Formula 2 Sprint Race held in Spielbe as a penalty.
Eventually, Isack Hdjar was promoted to the third position on the podium, while Oliver Bearman advanced to secure the last points-scoring position in eighth place.
- Clément Novalak Declines To Join F1
In 2022, Novalak shared a controversial yet strategic decision to abstain from pursuing a spot in an F1 young driver development program.
In a conversation with selected media, including Formula Scout, he highlighted his decision to remain unaffiliated with an F1 team that year.
“To be honest, it was a bit of a choice because F1 is ever-evolving, and drivers in F1 can change teams, and that can sometimes put you in a bit of a risk if you sign too early and set yourself on a path,” Novalak said to select media including Formula Scout earlier this month when asked if it was his choice to not be affiliated to an F1 team this year.”
“I don’t want to say anything bad about Oscar [Piastri, F2’s 2021 champion who is now Alpine’s reserve driver], but in that position where you essentially have done the job and have the ability to, and the results, to be able to join a F1 team. And to have to sit on the sidelines because unfortunately the two drivers that are there are already signed for quite a few years.”
His approach was more calculated regarding strategy, choosing the right moment to sign with a team when he clearly understood the genuine opportunities.
How Much Is Clément Novalak’s Net Worth?
The earnings of Formula 2 drivers can vary significantly based on various factors, including their experience level, on-track performance, and the teams they are associated with.
As per sources, the typical annual income for a Formula 2 driver falls in the range of £80,000 to £150,000.
Additionally, skilled drivers may be entitled to performance-based bonuses or incentives their teams provide.
There have been reports suggesting that top-tier drivers in the sport can potentially earn millions of dollars annually.
However, it’s essential to recognize that these figures are often estimations and may not accurately reflect the actual earnings of individual drivers.
Nevertheless, Novalak, being a young and thriving driver, is expected to have garnered a net worth of millions.
Interesting Facts
- Novalak is open regarding music taste, but he generally enjoys rap and 70’s & 80’s rock.
- His favorite movie is Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, a 2006 sports comedy film.
- An old Autobianchi Abarth from the 70s is his favorite car.
- His favorite video game is Call of Duty: WW2 because it was the only game he was good at.
- Novalak believes he is terrible at dancing but enjoys seeing people do moonwalking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Clément Novalak Dating?
As of 2024, he seems single, entirely focused on his thriving career.
Where Is Clément Novalak From?
He is from Avignon, France, but later migrated to Hertfordshire in the UK.
Who Are Clément Novalak Parents?
Novalak was born to a French father and a Swiss mother.
