Payton Westcott has become the latest driver locked in for the 2026 F1 Academy season, with Mercedes recruiting the American racer for the upcoming campaign.
The 16 year-old will take on her rookie season in the Mercedes operated by PREMA Racing car, alongside contesting a dual programme in Italian F4.
Starting out in karting aged six, Westcott progressed to competitive karting six years later, scoring promising results in the United States, Pro Kart Series, California Pro Kart Challenge and finished third in the Challenge of the Americas.
After being selected for the inaugural cohort of F1 Academy Discover Your Drive karters in the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy Program, Westcott progressed into single-seaters the following year.
Honing her craft in the Formula Winter Series, Italian F4 Championship, E4 Championship and F4 Saudi Arabian Championship, Westcott achieved a Female Trophy win in the Formula Winter Series alongside becoming the first and only woman to take home a victory in the UAE Trophy Series.
Making her F1 Academy debut as the Wild Card entry for the Las Vegas season finale, the American delivered a P6 finish on home soil in Race 1.
I’m excited to join the Mercedes family for the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season. They are an incredible team and one that is driven by passion, determination, and a constant pursuit of excellence. It’s an amazing opportunity to work with such a talented group of people that are commitment to developing young talent. I’m looking forward to learning new tracks throughout the season and continuing to grow my skill set both on and off the circuit. Every race weekend will be a chance to push my limits, refine my driving, and build consistency. I’m motivated to make the most of this journey and take the next big step in my career. Westcott on the news.
We’re very pleased to welcome Payton Westcott to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team family for the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season. She steps into big shoes by succeeding Doriane, who set a very high benchmark within our programme. We know Payton is a rookie, and we approach the season with realistic ambitions, but this is a challenge she understands and fully embraces. At just 16 years old, Payton has already demonstrated both maturity and strong performance. Her results in the 2025 Italian F4 and Euro 4 championships, as well as her recent performances in the UAE Formula 4 series, underline not only her speed but also her ability to adapt quickly to highly competitive environments. The 2026 season will be intense for Payton. Alongside F1 ACADEMY, she will continue racing in Italian F4 to further develop her race craft, technical understanding, and overall experience. We believe this dual programme will accelerate her progression and provide a solid foundation for her long-term ambitions in single-seater racing. We look forward to supporting her throughout this important next stage of her journey with us. Gwen Lagrue, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Driver Development Advisor.
Emma Felbermayr will contest her sophomore F1 Academy campaign, with the Austria racer representing Audi on the 2026 grid.
Felbermayr is returning after finishing 10th in the Standings in a promising rookie season. Achieving six points scoring finishes, she delivered her maiden win in Montreal Race 2.
She also competed in Spanish F4 and has made a three round appearance in the UAE4 Series in preparation for her second F1 Academy season.
Inducted as the newest member of the Audi Driver Development Programme, she will benefit from the programme’s resources and expertise covering on track performance and driving and engineering development, through to human performance and media and marketing.
The 19 year old will compete Rodin Motorsport’s lineup alongside McLaren’s Ella Lloyd and Ella Steven in the McLaren Oxagon car.
Continuing in F1 ACADEMY and to now do so as an official Audi Revolut F1 Team driver is a huge honour. To be associated with a brand that has such an incredible motorsport history, and one that supported icons like Michèle Mouton and Rahel Frey, is truly inspiring. I am grateful for the trust being placed in me and can’t wait to sport the Audi colours on the grid, as I continue my journey in the series with Rodin Motorsport. My goal is to represent the brand with pride, build on what I learned last season, and fight for strong results. Felbermayr on the news.
We are delighted to officially welcome Emma Felbermayr to the Audi Revolut F1 Team family. Her performance and dedication in her debut F1 ACADEMY season were impressive, and we see great potential for her future. Supporting female talent is a key priority for our F1 operations, and it is a source of pride for us to continue the legacy of strong female drivers who have succeeded with the Four Rings. We look forward to seeing Emma carry our colours on the grid in 2026. Allan McNish, Director of the Audi Driver Development Programme.
Ava Dobson will take on her rookie F1 Academy season this year, with the 17 year old competing for the series’ Official Partner American Express.
Awarded the Parella Motorsport Holdings Powering Diversity Scholarship in 2023, the American racer made her single-seater debut in the Formula 4 United States Championship.
Dobson gained further experience with appearances in the USF Juniors and USF2000 Championship that same year.
Transitioning over to racing in Europe, Dobson contested two rounds of the 2024 GB4 Championship before returning for a full campaign the following year. Claiming her maiden podium at Donnington Park, she finished the 2025 season as the highest scoring female driver.
Dobson becomes the fourth Wild Card driver to progress to the 2026 grid after making her F1 Academy debut on home soil during Round 3 in Miami last May.
I am really excited to be going with F1 ACADEMY this year with American Express. I’m truly super honoured to be chosen to race in the series and having an amazing partnership with American Express. I can’t wait to continue to build off of that throughout the whole year and work really hard with the team, and with American Express to be the best we can be. Dobson on the news.
Nina Gademan will be returning for a sophomore F1 Academy season after Alpine confirmed that the Dutch driver is to continue representing the team in 2026.
The 22 year old enjoyed a strong rookie season, scoring her first win on home soil in Zandvoort alongside three further podium finishes in Montreal and Las Vegas, she finished sixth in the Standings.
Racing with compatriots MP Motorsport for the upcoming season, Gademan is confident that their partnership can drive both forward to challenge for the top step.
I’m really happy to be part of the MP Motorsport family for next year. They have been strong performers in F1 ACADEMY from the start, and it’s always an advantage to race with your home team. With the experience and circuit knowledge that I gained this year, I feel that I am ready to challenge for more wins and the title in 2026. The team and I aim to use the winter ahead to fully prepare ourselves for the season kick-off at Shanghai in March, when I hope you will see me fighting right at the front. Gademan on the news.
F1 Academy Official Partner PUMA have announced that Rachel Robertson will be representing them on the grid this season.
The Scottish racer is set to step up to the series full-time, after a strong debut at the Las Vegas season finale, where she scored a P4 finish in Race 1.
Robertson began competitively karting in 2022, before moving up to the British Kart Championships the following year. In 2024, she achieved multiple top 10 results in the Senior Rotax Class in the 2024 BKC and was the only female driver to compete in that category.
Beating out more than 50 other young drivers, Robertson was selected for a factory drive with Radical Motorsport for the 2025 Radical Cup UK season, going on to score a top-three finish in the Standings. Invited to participate in the inaugural F1 Academy Rookie Test, the 18 year old clocked in top-five times across both sessions at the Circuito de Navarra.
I’m incredibly excited to be joining F1 ACADEMY with PUMA for 2026. It’s been an amazing journey to get here, just three years ago I was coming off my novice kart plates, having only got into the sport after persuading my dad to take me indoor rental karting. So much hard work has gone into this from my family and so many amazing people, and I’m hugely grateful for everything. I love that PUMA is the fastest sports brand in the world and that it represents being brave and true to yourself. That’s exactly what I want to be this year. Robertson on the news.
Kaylee Countryman has become the 10th driver confirmed for the 2026 F1 Academy campaign, with Haas announcing that the American driver will be representing them on next year’s grid.
Hailing from Chandler, Arizona, Countryman began racing on her birthday three years ago. Starting out in a four-stroke Briggs & Stratton-powered kart in the LO206 J2 class, she collected multiple podiums, including a P2 finish at a national karting event in California and competed at the Grand Nationals in Indiana.
In 2023, Countryman progressed into two-stroke karts and international racing, joining the J3 competition and becoming a factory driver for Compkart.
Last year, she stepped into the North American based USF Juniors series with Exclusive Autosport. One of three females in the 22 driver field, Countryman scored four top 10 finishes. Additionally, she made a two round appearance in the USF2000 Championship and participated in F1 Academy in-season testing in Navarra.
Driving with ART Grand Prix this season, she will benefit from additional track time with a campaign in the USF2000 Championship, once again racing for Exclusive Autosport.
I’m so thrilled that I’ve been given this opportunity to represent Haas F1 Team and ART Grand Prix in the F1 ACADEMY for 2026. I look forward to taking another step in my career and learning to work in such a professional environment. I’m particularly excited about the various circuits we’ll be visiting around the world and being part of all that F1 ACADEMY represents. I enjoyed a productive test with ART Grand Prix and I’m keen to build on that foundation as we go racing in 2026. Countryman on the news.
We’re delighted to welcome Kaylee Countryman into the team to represent us in F1 ACADEMY from next season. Her personality and passion for this sport are contagious, and we want to ensure she has everything she needs to flourish in F1 ACADEMY, whether that be access to our resources and personnel, or simply advice and guidance. I believe together, we’ll achieve some exciting things on-track. I’m delighted Kaylee’s joined us, and we look forward to seeing her development as a driver in F1 ACADEMY. Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.
Alba Larsen will be returning for a second F1 Academy campaign this year, with Ferrari selecting the Danish racer to represent them this season.
The 16 year old put together a promising rookie season, scoring seven top-five finishes on her way to seventh in the Standings, including a joint best performance of P4 in Shanghai Race 2 and Las Vegas Race 2.
Larsen will be keeping her racing skills sharp with additional seat time. Alongside participating in the F4 UAE Championship over winter break, the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member will once again be competing in the British F4 Championship in which she achieved a best finish of P11 this year.
Prior to F1 Academy, Larsen won the Senior category of the 2023 FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme. She went on to make her single-seater debut in the 2024 Indian F4 Championship, scoring points in her maiden weekend.
Racing for Ferrari in F1 ACADEMY is a dream come true. They’ve been my favourite team since I was a child and getting to wear red feels surreal and is an incredible honour. I’ve felt their support since FIA Girls on Track and now being part of the most iconic team in motorsport is a true honour. I’m ready to give everything I have for the Scuderia. Bet on red! Larsen on the news.
F1 Academy has unveiled the calendar for the 2026 season, which, once again features seven rounds in support of the FIA Formula One World Championship, including the series’ first ever appearance at Silverstone.
The fourth season of the all-female series will again comprise 14 races across the seven rounds, maintaining the popular reverse grid format for one race at each event. The calendar will also be supported by a comprehensive 12 day testing program as part of the series’ commitment to offering extensive seat time.
The 2026 season will see F1 Academy return to Shanghai, Jeddah and Montreal, before heading to Silverstone for Round 4 to be part of the British Grand Prix for the first time, 12 years after Managing Director Susie Wolff’s first free practice appearance there in 2014.
The series will then be welcomed back to the sand dunes of Zandvoort, before concluding with two rounds in the United States. Circuit of the Americas rejoins the calendar for the first time since F1 Academy’s maiden appearance in its inaugural season, before the series concludes once again at the spectacular Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
In just three seasons, F1 ACADEMY has developed some fantastic drivers and grown a huge and passionate fanbase all over the world. It inspires women and girls to consider a role in motorsport, be that on or off the track, by removing barriers and showing what can be done. I would like to thank Susie Wolff and her team for their drive and vision in creating such an outstanding series, and congratulate 2025 Champion, Doriane Pin, for her incredible achievement. I’m also grateful to our race promoters for their enthusiasm and commitment to making F1 ACADEMY a key fixture at their Grand Prix weekends. We’ve also seen fantastic growth in grassroots participation, which is vital for the future of the sport. Next season is set to be another brilliant year, and I can’t wait to see how the 2026 grid performs Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1.
Our 2026 F1 ACADEMY calendar reflects the momentum we’re building and the visibility we’re earning across the sport. Silverstone and Austin are two fantastic additions to our 2026 roster, and returning to five established races gives us our strongest calendar yet, closing once again in Las Vegas where we aim to finish the season with the same style and flair we delivered this year. Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy.
Jade Jacquet will make her F1 Academy debut this year, as Williams have announced that the French racer will be representing the team on the 2026 grid in the ART Grand Prix operated car.
The 16 year old will also be joining the Williams Racing Driver Academy, giving her access to the full spectrum of Academy support, as well as working closely with the team at Grove.
Beginning her career in international karting in 2023, she progressed through the French Junior Karting Championship before stepping up to single-seaters this year.
Her 2025 French F4 campaign saw her score 12 top 20 finishes, including a best result of P11 Circuit des 24 Heures. She also achieved the Female Trophy at the dijon-Prenois circuit.
Earlier this year, Jacquet was selected for the inaugural F1 Academy Rookie Test. Completing 83 laps around the Circuito de Navarra, she finished with the seventh-fastest time in the afternoon running.
I’m super excited to be joining the Williams Racing Driver Academy and F1 ACADEMY for the 2026 season. The team has been very welcoming and I’m looking forward to working with them to learn as much as I can throughout my debut season. Thank you to Atlassian Williams Racing for believing in me and I can’t wait to get on track. Jacquet on the news.
We are proud to welcome Jade to our team as our Atlassian Williams Racing driver in F1 ACADEMY. Jade has made rapid progress in her motorsport career and has strong potential for the future, already demonstrating her ability to learn and adapt in her transition to single-seaters. As a member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy, we’ll be working closely with her to nurture her development both on and off the track. As a team, we continue to support Formula 1 and F1 ACADEMY’s shared mission to advance female representation in motorsport and look forward to seeing Jade start her 2026 campaign. Sven Smeets, Sporting Director at Atlassian Williams Racing.
Mathilda Paatz will embark on her first F1 Academy campaign next year, with Aston Martin signing the 17 year old for the 2026 season.
Hailing from Cologne, the German racer began her racing career in karting in 2019, going on to score a third-place finish in the 2020 ADAC Kart Masters – Mini category and a standout victory in 2022 ADAC Kart Masters – Ladies Cup.
After transitioning to single-seaters for the 2024 French F4 campaign, she claimed two wins in the 2025 E4 Championship – Trophy Woman and a podium finish in the F4 Central European Zone Championship, on her way to finishing eighth in the Standings.
Additionally, Paatz made her F1 Academy debut as the Wild Card entry for Round 4 in Montreal, driving the #8 Gatorade-liveried car operated by Hitech TGR.
Selected by Aston Martin after excelling in a rigorous four-driver evaluation programme, Paatz also joins the team’s Driver Academy and will be competing with PREMA Racing next year.
I’m really proud to be representing Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team in F1 ACADEMY next year. This is something I’ve worked incredibly hard for and my focus now is on preparing for the season ahead. There will be lots to learn, including several new circuits, but I feel confident knowing I have so much support from Aston Martin Aramco and PREMA Racing. I had a great first day at the AMRTC in Silverstone meeting so many incredible people from the Aston Martin Aramco team. I immediately felt at home and everybody was very welcoming. I couldn’t be happier and I can’t wait to get racing! Paatz on the news.
In partnership with PREMA Racing, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of four drivers before selecting who would represent Aston Martin Aramco in the 2026 F1 ACADEMY series. To ensure a rigorous and fair assessment, we held a shootout at the demanding Mugello circuit, giving each driver a day in an F4 car to showcase their capabilities. Mathilda not only emerged as the fastest driver, but also demonstrated consistency, maturity and a competitive spirit. Her performance was strong enough not just to secure the F1 ACADEMY seat, but also to earn herself a place in the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Driver Academy. We are delighted to welcome her as both our F1 ACADEMY driver and a member of our development programme, and we look forward to supporting her throughout this exciting next step in her career. Nuno Pinto, Racing Director of Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Driver Academy.
Gatorade has announced its sponsorship of F1 Academy rookie driver Lisa Billard, marking its mission to make performance support accessible.
Lisa Billard, viewed as one of the sport’s new rising talents, has shown impressive potential at just 16 years of age. She became the Women’s Champion at the 2025 French F4 Championship at Le Mans, and the first female to win a race in the French Junior Karting Championship, earning her a Wild Card entry for Round 6 of the F1 Academy season in Singapoe.
The partnership underlines Gatorade’s ‘Fuel Tomorrow’ commitment to supporting young people’s participation in sport, amplifying the voices of young female athletes and fueling their performance through science-driven hydration, nutrition and resoucres.
Crucially it leverages the expertise of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) to generate invaluable insights into the specific hydration needs of young women, to feel confident, empowered and fully optimised for success.
Gatorade is also an official partner of F1 Academy for the 2026 season and beyond, supporting its overarching mission to increase female participation of women in motorsport, both on and off the track.
Single-seater racing pushes your body to the limit. You can lose up to 4kg of fluid, burn huge amounts of calories, and race in hot temperatures. So, working with a brand like Gatorade and GSSI to understand my hydration and recovery couldn’t be more important. I’m so excited to take on my first season of F1 ACADEMY in 2026, with the support of Gatorade behind me. Lisa Billard, F1 Academy Gatorade driver.
We are setting a precedent for young female athlete support and showcasing how when athletes get the right resources at the right time, everything changes. This partnership exemplifies the Gatorade ‘Is It In You?’ philosophy: to spark performance by leverage our knowledge and understanding of the science of hydration. By ensuring Lisa has access to science-backed resources and tailored performance support at this pivotal stage of her career, we’re empowering her to reach her potential and inspire the next generation. Erick Scheel, President of PepsiCo Latin America Beverages.
Alisha Palmowski and Rafaela Ferreira will be returning for their sophomore F1 Academy seasons next year, with the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy Programme and the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Academy Programme announcing that they have renewed the pair’s contracts.
Palmowski has enjoyed a strong rookie season, winning the opening race of the season in Shanghai. From there, the 19 year old British racer has scored three further podiums and is on course to finish fifth in the Drivers’ standings.
Ferreira’s first season racing outside Brazil has seen the 20 year old deliver five points-scoring finishes, including a best result so far of P5 in Shanghai Race 1.
We’re very excited that Alisha will be continuing her journey in F1 Academy with Red Bull Racing. She has had a very promising rookie season and is going from strength to strength. She embodies the Red Bull spirit and is a fantastic flagbearer for Red Bull Racing in F1 Academy. Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing.
I’m really excited to continue my F1 Academy journey with Red Bull Racing. I’ve loved being part of the Team this last year and can’t wait to continue working hard next season. Alisha Palmowski, Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy Programme driver on the news.
Everyone at VCARB is thrilled to have Rafa represent our team for another season. She has become a big part of our family over the last year, and both Alan and I are excited to see how she continues to develop going into her second season. Peter Bayer, CEO of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.
Returning for another season in F1 Academy will give me the chance to further develop my skills as a driver and I’m honoured to represent the VCARB family in the series. Rafaela Ferreira, Visa Cash App Racing Bulld Ac
The LEGO Group and F1 Academy have announced an exciting multi-year partnership to inspire young fans, especially girls, through creative play and representation.
As part of this collaboration, the LEGO Group will be represented on the F1 Academy grid starting with the 2026 F1 Academy season, with Lego Racing piloted by driver Esmee Kosterman at the wheel.
In 2026, Kosterman will serve as the premiere driver for Lego Racing during her first full season in F1 Academy. The 20 year old Dutch driver has a rich history in the kart racing circuit and became the first woman to win in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup series in 2023, before going on to finish second in the Junior Cup and third in the overall standings.
In 2024, Kosterman moved into single seaters with Indian F4 and made her F1 Academy debut as the Wild Card entry at Round 5 of the season in Zandvoort, her home race.
We’re so proud to welcome the LEGO Group as an Official Partner of F1 ACADEMY. This collaboration isn’t just about the possibility of building an F1 ACADEMY LEGO car, it’s about building belief in what’s possible. With our first partnership product, fans will be able to create something that stands for opportunity and representation. We hope every young girl who picks up these bricks sees more than just a model, she sees herself, her potential, and her place in the world of motorsport whether as a fan, engineer, driver or leader. Together, we’re challenging outdated perceptions of who belongs in motorsport and empowering the next generation of young women to build their own paths. Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy.
F1 ACADEMY is levelling the playing field in motorsport, giving young female athletes a clear pathway to achieve their dreams in the top tiers of the sport. We can’t wait to see LEGO Racing join the F1 ACADEMY grid and are so excited to have Esmee as our driver. For the first time, fans can hold their favourite F1 ACADEMY LEGO car in their hands, and I’m thrilled that we’re securing female representation in racing toys for young girls. We hope the infusion of LEGO play and creativity to this exciting sport inspires the next generation of young women in motorsport, as well as the female builders of tomorrow, that anything is possible. Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer of the Lego Group.
To be the first driver for LEGO Racing is such an exciting opportunity, and I can’t wait to continue my racing journey with F1 ACADEMY. I’ve long been a fan of the LEGO brand, its creativity and what it stands for and to bring it to the track from the 2026 season onwards is incredible. I hope this inspires future generations of female drivers, that with hard work and determination, anything is possible! Esmee Kosterman, Driver for Lego Racing.
McLaren have announced that two drivers will be representing the team on the 2026 F1 Academy gird, with Ella Lloyd retained for her sophomore campaign alongside Ella Stevens, who joins their Driver Development Programme.
Lloyd has enjoyed a successful rookie season with five podiums, including one win to her name. The Welsh racer finished the season in 4th, scoring 109 points in total.
Stevens recently became the Vice-Champion in the 2025 British KZ2 Karting Championship and is the only woman to win in the UK’s premier karting class. In September, she topped the timesheets in the inaugural F1 Academy Rookie Test.
McLaren’s added commitment to the series will be delivered in collaboration with long-standing partner NEOM, the development taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia.
The second McLaren Racing entry piloted by 19 year old Stevens will be known as F1 Academy McLaren Oxagon, and both cars will be operated by Rodin Motorsport.
While I recognise that more remains to be done to increase female representation in motorsport, I’m immensely proud of the progress we’ve made in this space. I hope this signals to all the amazingly talented female karters, drivers, engineers, mechanics, marketeers and accountants out there that our sport is open to all and deeply committed to keeping up the incredible momentum we have seen over the past few years. There are so many opportunities both at and away from track and I want to thank NEOM for partnering with us in this space to help us open more pathways for women. To now have three talented young female drivers in our Driver Development Programme is really exciting, and I cannot wait to see them hit the track. Zak Brown on the news.
Doriane Pin made her title intentions clear, topping the timesheets in practice ahead of rival Maya Weug on the series’ first appearance around the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
The Standings leader posted a 2:07.967 to go two tenths clear of the Ferrari driver after a late running red flag denied them a chance to improve in the last 10 minutes of running.
Lia Block was the first to post a time around the 6.2km circuit, steadily lowering the initial benchmark from a 2:19.431 to a 2:15.321. Track temperatures continued to fall below 17.6˚C as the action heated up, with Pin breaking into the 2:12s, followed by Tommy Hilfiger’s Alba Larsen.
The Mercedes driver pushed on, remaining quickest on a 2:10.117. Meanwhile, Weug began to slowly bring her tyres up to temperature, moving into second, seven tenths off Pin’s effort.
As the rest of the field picked up the pace, Alisha Palmowski rocketed to the top with the first 2:09s time of the day, only to be quickly beaten by Pin. Weug briefly moved to the top of the order on a 2:09.045, while both Rafaela Ferreira and Lia Block took separate tips to the run-off.
Personal bests for Palmowski and Chloe Chambers elevated the Campos Racing pair to the top two, but it wouldn’t be long before Pin moved back out front on a 2:08.606, with Weug closing to within 0.050s.
Pin managed to put over two tenths between herself and her title rival with a 2:07.967. Chambers moved back inside the top three, but the Red Bull Ford driver’s session would be brought to a premature end.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the American found the barriers after her front right suspension broke on the approach to Turn 1, necessitating a red flag. The clock continued to tick down and with only a minute remaining once the session resumed, no further improvements were possible.
Qualifying-
Red Bull Ford driver, Chloe Chambers sailed above the rest to secure pole position on home soil, beating rookies Alisha Palmowski and Alba Larsen around the spectacular Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
In a shock to the remarkably close title battle, Chambers took the top spot in dominant fashion, leaving contenders Doriane Pin and Maya Weug down in P4 and P5 respectively after the American set a time of 2:06.538.
Following a small delay to the start of the session, it came down to McLaren driver Ella Lloyd to set the first flying lap on a busy track, with everyone working to warm their tyres up in the chilly conditions. Her initial effort of 2:10.951 was quickly knocked off the top by title challenger Weug, who put in a purple sector 1 before getting caught behind Larsen.
There was a possibility that the Tommy Hilfiger driver was attempting to give her MP Motorsport teammate a tow to propel Weug to provisional pole, but Pin managed to go 0.420s clear with 18 minutes of the session remaining.
Larsen and Weug momentarily returned to the pits with plenty of improvements still to come – Chambers demoted Mercedes frontrunner Pin to P2, beating the fastest time set in practice in the process.
Lap times tumbled as Pin and Chambers continued to exchange P1 on the timesheets, leaving the battle for pole position wide open as the drivers headed into the tense final third of qualifying.
Meanwhile, Weug lingered down in sixth position before team tactics came into play and a successful tow from Larsen pushed her up to P2, just 0.044s behind Chambers.
With a lap around the dazzling Las Vegas track taking over two minutes to complete, everyone had to time their final attempts to perfection in order to maximise the tyre temperature.
Pin had previously been informed by her engineer that she needed a tow for Sector 3, but her PREMA Racing team mate Tina Hausmann did not make it easy to pass at the critical moment, leaving the Mercedes driver down in P4.
F1 Academy has announced Esmee Kosterman as the Wild Card entry for Round 5 of the season at Circuit Zandvoort, representing TeamViewer, the global leader in remote connectivity and digital workplace solutions.
The 20 year old Dutch driver will debut with F1 Academy in a special edition livery that highlights innovators and changemakers driving progress – on and off track.
Hailing for Wijk bij Duurstede in the Netherlands, Kosterman stepped up into car racing in 2021, cmpeting in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup Benelux. Two years later, she became the first woman to win in the series before going on to finish second in the Junior Cup and third in the overall standings.
Kosterman continued to broaden her racecraft in the Dutch Supercar Challenge, BMW M2 Cup and the Lamera Cup. After scoring points on her Indian F4 debut last year, this season has seen her race in British F4 with appearances at Silverstone, Snetterton and Zandvoort.
Our sport has the power to inspire change, and we are incredibly proud to be championing women both on and off track. We know that creating female role models in motorsport is already helping to improve participation at the junior level of racing, and working with TeamViewer, we are excited to take this further and inspire the next generation of women in STEM. Together our mission is to empower the next generation of female leaders and send a clear message: your presence matters, you are driving change. Karin Fink, Head of Commercial Operations, F1 Academy.
It is our ambition to drive meaningful change both on and off the track. The opportunity to support Esmee in her F1 ACADEMY debut while driving a car featuring role models is the next step in achieving this. Our research found that not being able to see someone like you in a senior role made it harder to see a career in your chosen field. This is why it was so important to showcase so many role models on the car. Working with the F1 ACADEMY to see this come to life has been a highlight of the partnership so far. We look forward to supporting Esmee in person at her home race. Faith Wheller, VP of Brand, Integrated Marketing and Sports Partnerships, Teamviewer.
Mercedes’ Doriane Pin steered clear of trouble in Montreal to deliver her third win in six races and snatched the lead of the Drivers’ Standings.
The French racer had a front-row view to contact between polesitter Chloe Chamber and her teammate Alisha Palmowski, taking advantage of the contact to seize the lead and withstanding a Safety Car restart to take home the win.
Ella Lloyd also capitalised on the chaos, turning a P7 start into a P2 finish, whilst Kick Sauber’s Emma Felbermayr put together a mature performance to earn her first F1 Academy podium.
Chambers aced her launch at lights out, allowing her to keep her teammate Palmowski behind on the run down to Turn 1. Pin and Nobels went side-by-side but it was Lloyd on the move, going almost three-wide with Nobels and Felbermayr to get through to fourth.
Benefitting from the tow, Palmowski piled the pressure on Chambers. Refusing to give up, the Red Bull Racing driver gambled on a move inside of Turn 1, which didn’t pay off. Locking up on entry, the two collided, sending Palmowski into a spin and leaving Chamber leading, albeit with a broken front wing.
Pin capitalised on the incident, sailing past the stricken Red Bull Ford car and into the lead. Chambers fought back valiantly to hit the front again momentarily until her front wing detached, with the American driver forced to pit for repairs.
Making the most of the clear air, Pin escaped down the road, building up a gap of over a second to Lloyd by Lap 6.
Meanwhile, Maya Weug’s Montreal weekend went from bad to worse, as the Ferrari driver made multiple trips to the pits as an issue continued to plague her car.
Trying to salvage some points from the race, Palmowski clawed her way back into the top 10. Attempting to make her way through on Chloe Chong, the Brit found the door firmly shut until Lap 10. After Palmowski lunged up the inside of the hairpin at the last second, Chong utilised the slipstream to repay the favour.
Missing the final corner, the Charlotte Tilbury driver had to give the place back as behind the pair, Wild Card driver, Matilda Paatz hit the wall and triggered the Safety Car.
With Pin’s 1.8 second lead wiped away, the Mercedes driver bunched the pack together as she brought them back up to racing speed heading into Lap 15. Catching Lloyd off guard, Pin pulled clear of the McLaren driver, who had to fend off an attack from her Rodin teammate.
Further back, Rafaela Ferreira and Alba Larsen battled over P6. A huge lock-up for the Racing Bulls driver forced to take the escape road. Carrying too much speed on the exit, the Brazilian collided with the side of Chong. Meanwhile. contact between Joanne Ciconte and Courtney Crone sent the Haas spinning off at the hairpin, bringing out the Safety Car again.
With only two laps remaining, Pin drew the race to a close behind the Safety Car to take a 24 point lead in the standings.
The full top 10 are- P1: Pin, P2: Lloyd, P3: Felbermayr, P4: Gademan, P5: Block, P6: Larsen, P7: Hausmann, P8: Palmowski, P9: Chamber and P10: Anagnostiadis.
Race 2-
After being disqualified from her first F1 Academy podium earlier on in the day, Emma Felbermayr avenged the result during Race 2 in Canada, sealing a maiden victory in a frenetic final lap sprint to the chequered flag.
Nina Gademan came within half a lap of victory, but a late Safety Car left the Alpine driver vulnerable and she couldn’t hold on as Felbermayr and Ella Lloyd snuck past to deliver a 1-2 finish for Rodin Motorsport.
Reverse grid pole sitter, Chloe Chong initially held firm off the line as Gademan stuck close behind in second. Felbermayr, Lloyd and Tina Hausmann almost went three-wide at the start after the Kick Sauber driver squeezed across to the right, with Lloyd managing to slip into third.
Spotting her opportunity a few corners later, Gademan dived up the inside of Chong who left the door open long enough to enable Lloyd and Felbermayr to follow through.
Felbermayr made up another place on Lap 2, utilising the sliptstream to swoop past Lloyd, who had no time to fight back as she tried to fend off Doriane Pin. At the same time, Chambers risked a move of her own on the Mercedes driver on Lap 5. Going side-by-side into Turn 2, the Red Bull Ford driver spun across the run-off and tumbled down to P14.
Pin then tried to overtake Lloyd at the final chicane, but both cut the corner. Although, the Mercedes emerged out in front, Pin was ordered over the radio to give the position back to Lloyd. Behind them, Tommy Hilfiger’s Alba Larsen made a move stick on Alisha Palmowski for fifth.
Out front, Gademan had built a comfortable 1.4 second-gap over Felbermayr, but was shown the black and white flag for track limits.
After swapping positions with Lloyd on the next lap, Larsen tried to take advantage with a late-braking move into the hairpin. Tapping the rear right of Pin’s car, the Mercedes driver was lucky to hold on to fourth, with the Dane shown the black and white flag for the contact.
Fortunately her MP Motorsport teammate Maya Weug, was able to pull off the lunge on Aurelia Nobels in eighth. The Puma driver fought back with the slip stream but didn’t have enough room, banging wheels into the final chicane and sending Nobels skidding over the run-off.
Lloyd and Pin’s battle continued, with the Mercedes driver skipping over the final corner and emerging out in front. Yielding the place back to the Mclaren driver left her vulnerable to Larsen, who pounced at the same corner one lap later to snatch fourth away.
Gademan’s lead out front was steadily being chipped away by Felbermayr to under eight tenths until contact between Hitech TGR teammates Nicola Havrda and Aiva Anagnostiadis necessitated a Safety Car on Lap 14.
Left with one racing lap, Gademan went early in her sprint to the line. Sticking with her, Felbermayr dived to inside of the Dutch driver at Turn 9 to take the lead, while Lloyd followed through snatching second at the hairpin.
With only a few turns to go, Felbermayr was in a race against time. Bouncing over the kerb at the final corner, the Austrian managed to keep her foot to the floor to take the chequered flag first.
Race 3-
Chloe Chambers stayed in full control in Canada to convert pole position into her first victory of the 2025 season. Fending off McLaren’s Ella Lloyd, the Red Bull Ford driver mastered two Safety Car restarts to deliver a lights-to-flag win.
Lloyd secured her third consecutive second place finish in Montreal, whilst Pin recovered from a tricky opening lap to secure third.
The Campos Racing duo of Chambers and Palmowski once again lined up on the front row, with polesitter Chambers holding firm off the line. A rapid start from fourth placed Lloyd put her alongside Palmowski through the first chicane.
The pair banged wheels on the run to Turn 3, sending Palmowski spinning. Pin narrowly avoided being collected despite a knock to her front wing but dropped down to P5 behind PREMA teammates Hausmann and Gademan.
Contact ensued further back after Wild Card Mathilda Paatz lost it out of Turn 7 and crashed into the path of Aiva Anagnostiadis necessitating a Safety Car by the end of the lap. Returning to green flag conditions on Lap 8, Chambers floored it into the final chicane to put space between herself and Lloyd. Pin fired her way past Hausmann on the restart, going later on the brakes at Turn 3.
Race 2 winner, Emma Felbermayr was also making moves, pulling off a quick dive past Chloe Chong for P6.
Lloyd kept the pressure on Chambers, setting the fastest lap heading into lap 9. Fighting over the podium, Pin got the tow on Hausmann to breeze past the Aston Martin driver for third, whilst Maya Weug sought to salvage a result from her unlucky weekend.
Another Safety Car was called after Lia Block misjudged her braking into Turn 8 as she tried to get past Rafaela Ferreira for the final point on Lap 10.
Chambers pulled off a near identical restart on Lap 13, but Lloyd has sussed it out already and stayed close to the American.
Larsen tried to go round the outside of Chloe Chong for P5, but the Tommy Hilfiger driver left the door open for Weug. Banging wheels at Turn 3, it was the Ferrari driver who emerged in front as Larsen dropped down to 8th.
Palmwoski then pounced, demoting Larsen down another place before diving past Gademan at Turn 10 for seventh.
The Safety Car would make a third and final appearance after contact on Lap 14 between Courtney Crone and Felbermayr under braking left the Haas car facing the wrong way.
As the race approached the 30 minute mark, there was not enough time to get back to green flag racing, allowing Chambers to take the chequered flag for the win with Lloyd and Pin completing the podium.
Red Bull Racing;s Alisha Palmowski made the most of her first appearance at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, topping Round 4’s one and only Free Practice session with a 1:38.898.
Campos Racing kept a firm hold on the top spot as Palmowski and teammate Chloe Chambers traded personal bests, before the Briton’s final attempt nudged her in front by 0.074s at the chequered flag.
Larsen was the first driver to get a feel for the 4.361 km circuit, with her initial impression clocking in at 1:55.428. Steadily getting up to speed, the Tommy Hilfiger driver set the time to beat at 1:42.647 to go three tenths ahead of Ella Lloyd.
Only four drivers had times on the board after 10 minutes of running. Lloyd was next to go fastest on a 1:43.277, despite the McLaren driver going too deep into the final chicane and over the run off.
Beginning to make her presence known, Chambers posted a 1:41.701 to go a tenth quicker than Palmowski at the top of the timesheets. Although the Red Bull Ford driver then improved by a further two tenths, her hold would be brief as Palmowski broke clear on her next attempt, putting an eight-tenths buffer between herself and P2.
Chambers was the first into the 1:39s to re-take the time to beat, only to be pushed back down to second by just 0.079s to Palmowski. Pin sat in third at the halfway mark, 0.237s off the benchmark.
The Campos duo showed little sign of slowing, with Chambers crossing the line to regain best time of the session, before Palmowski set the timesheets alight with a 1:39.315.
Five tenths off the pace in third, Larsen narrowly avoided a trip to the barriers, carrying too much speed into the chicane and spinning onto the grass. A red flag put running to a halt with less than 10 minutes remaining after a fan detached from Pin’s car following her exit from the pits.
Improvements were still to be found once Green Flag conditions resumed. Even with the tyres being well past their peak, Chambers posted the first 1:38s time of the day. However, it was Palmowski who ended the session on top, snatching the fastest effort by setting a 1:38.898 at the chequered flag.
Qualifying-
Chloe Chambers threw down the gauntlet to her title rivals, conquering Qualifying in Montreal to seal her third consecutive pole position of the season.
Locked in a back and forth battle with teammate Alisha Palmowski, it was the Red Bull Ford driver who stamped her authority on the top spot, setting a 1:38.125 in the final minutes. Palmowski completed a 1-2 for Campos Racing, with Mercedes’ Doriane Pin finishing four tenths back in third.
Without a time to her name following an electrical issue in practice, every lap mattered for Maya Weug. After a burst of initial laps, Chambers set the early benchmark of a 1:45.283. Improving into the 1:41s on her next attempt, the American was swiftly beaten by a 1:40.910 from Alba Larsen.
Times quickly tumbled, with Lia Block, Ella Lloyd and Palmowski all going fastest in turn, before Larsen moved back up to the top and into the 1:39s. In a class of her own in the first phase, Larsen continued to beat her personal best, with a 1:39.246 putting nine tenths between herself and Lloyd in P2.
With 17 minutes to go, the PREMA trio headed out and Pin immediately broke into the top three, albeit six tenths off Larsen.
Reminiscent of Free Practice, Chambers would be the one to demote her teammate going over a tenth quicker. In response, Palmowski posted the fastest time of the day with a 1:38.749 with Chambers settling for second on her next attempt.
The Red Bull Ford driver then reinstated her hold on the top of the timesheets by 0.059s only for Palmowski to find an extra 0.039s.
With less than six minutes to go, Chamber responded with a 1:38.125, eclipsing her teammate by over five tenths.
Pin then hit the front row, splitting the Campos duo, but one final lap at the chequered flag was enough for Palmowski to regain second. However, Chambers’ earlier effort proved enough for her to seal pole position by three tenths to Palmowski, as Pin wound up third.
F1 Academy has confirmed that a third race will be added to the schedule for Round 4 of the 2025 season in Montreal.
The amended schedule will see Free Practice and Qualifying take place on Friday. Two races will follow on the Saturday and the third race taking place on Sunday.
The grid for Race 1 will be established using the final starting grid for Race 2 in Miami, with the wild card driver for round 4 will be permitted to start the race from the back of the grid.
Race 2’s starting grid will be set by reversing the top eight drivers from Qualifying in Montreal. Each driver’s fastest Qualifying lap will set the grid for Race 3, which will take place on Sunday, with all three races lasting for 30 minutes plus one lap.
One point will be awarded to the driver who achieves the fastest lap in Race 1 and Race 3, provided she classifies in the top ten. Additionally, one point will be awarded to the driver who achieves the fastest lap in Race 2, provided she finishes in the top eight.
Morgan Stanley, the first financial services partner of the all-female series, will support Ava Dobson as she races in Miami in a firm-branded bespoke livery and race suit.
American driver Dobson will join the F1 Academy grid on home soil as the Wild Card entry for Round 3 in Miami. Supported by Morgan Stanley, the 16 year old will take to the track in a Morgan Stanley branded bespoke livery and race suit operated by Hitech TGR car.
Dobson, who fails from Milwaukee, began competing in open-wheel racing in 2023 in the Formula 4 US Championship and was awarded a Parella Motorsports Holdings Powering Diversity Scholarship, alongside racing in the USF Juniors and USF2000.
Venturing over to Europe for a two-round appearance in the GB4 Championship the following year, 2025 has seen Dobson return for a full campaign, with her scoring points across the first two rounds in Donington Park and Silverstone.
We are very proud to have Morgan Stanley on board as the inaugural financial services partner of F1 ACADEMY, in the firm’s first foray into motorsport sponsorship. It is fantastic to see Morgan Stanley, a brand that has driven excellence and innovation for 90 years, investing in women’s sport and championing female talent in motorsport. Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy.
Maya Weug got Round 2 off to a strong start as the Ferrari driver snatched the fastest time away from Alisha Palmowski with a last-gasp effort as the chequered flag was flown.
It was nip and tuck at the top of the timing sheets, with the leading duo separated by 0.030s followed by Standings leader Doriane Pin in third.
With 40 minutes to get reacquainted with both the low-grip and the scorching temperatures, the field headed out for their installation laps. It would take 10 minutes before Nicole Havrda got the first time of the day on the board with a 2:11.374.
Pin would immediately lower the early benchmark to a 2:07.687 before moving into the 2:06s. Weug was next to go quickest on a 2:06.286 and then clocked in an improved time to put a six tenths buffer between herself and Pin, with Lia Block a further two tenths back in third.
Palmowski was the next driver to move into second, reducing the gap out front to four tenths. Exploring the limits, Farah AlYousef brought out the yellow flags with 15 minutes remaining after the Wild Card driver spun on to the run-off into the final corner.
Into the final three minutes, Pin seized the P1 spot on a 2:05.610, pipping Wug by 0.06s. However the times weren’t done falling yet as Weug restored herself to the top of the order moments before the chequered flag came out.
A last second improvement to 2:-5.387 from Palmowski seemed to get the job done by 0.052s, but Weug had one final push remaining to regain the fastest lap of the session with a 2:05.357.
Qualifying-
Chloe Chambers lit up the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to claim her first pole position in F1 Academy, winning out in a late three-car battle in qualifying.
The Red Bull Ford driver stamped her mark on the timesheets with three minutes to go and nobody’s final attempts could touch her 2:04.320. Doriane Pin was her closest rival in second, two and a half tenths back as Maya Weug completed the top three.
Bolting on a fresh set of Pirelli tyres for Qualifying under the floodlights, Ella Lloyd got the first time on the board, posting a 2:06.550 with a big lock-up from the McLaren driver into the final corner. Despite improving to a 2:06.307 on her next attempt, she was demoted to P2 by practice pace-setter Weug, who went 0.480s clear of Lloyd and her Rodin Motorsport teammates Chloe Chong and Emma Felbermayr.
Their early rhythm would be interrupted by the Red Flag at the 23 minute mark as Lia Block clipped the inside wall into the final corner and crashed into the barrier.
Once running resumed, the drivers squabbled over track position but Lloyd took advantage of her clean air to go top on a 2:05.635. This was only for Weug to once again eclipse her by 0.051s ahead of Alba Larsen who moved her Tommy Hilfiger can into the top three.
Another flying lap complete and Alisha Palmowski was next to go fastest, but the Red Bull Racing driver’s hold would be brief. Chambers rose to the top of the timing screens, three tenths clear of Larsen.
Whilst several of her rivals pitted around the halfway point, Chambers pushed on, becoming the first driver into the 2:04s. Her Campos Racing teammate Palmowski who also improved, closing to within 0.063s of the American.
Palmowski wasn’t done there, going fastest of all on a 2:04.864. Pin, who languished down in P11, then shot up to the top of the order by 0.048s. Benefitting from the tow behind Lloyd, Chambers threw down the gauntlet with a 2:04.320 to take provisional pole.
Pin’s final two attempts weren’t enough to deny Campos their second pole position in F1 Academy, although the Mercedes driver did reduce the deficit down to two tenths.
Weug’s last-gasp improvement at the chequered flag was enough for third, with the rest of the top six holding firm. The top 10 are- Pole: Chambers, P2: Pin, P3: Weug, P4: Palmowski, P5: Larsen, P6: Hausmann, P7: Llloyd, P8: Felbermayr, P9: Gademan and P10: Chong.
Day 2, Race 1-
Ella Lloyd claimed a masterful maiden F1 Academy victory around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit as she seized the lead from her Rodin Motorsport teammate Emma Felbermayr at the first corner to win race 1.
Despite a tantalising Safety Car restart, and immense pressure from Ferrari’s Maya Weug, the McLaren driver maintained first position all the way to the chequered flag.
Although Felbermayr started on reverse grid pole, it was Lloyd who got the better launch at lights out as she sailed into the lead of the race, quickly establishing a sturdy gap back to her teammate. There was another great start for Palmowski down in P5 – she charged through to break into the top three, surviving an additional challenge from Alba Larsen before she masterfully took P2 on the road from Felbermayr.
The drivers jostled for position across the field throughout the opening laps, with Mercedes’ Doriane Pin getting stuck into an intense battle with Tina Hausmann as Weug improved to P3 just ahead.
Further back, disaster struck for Lia Block, who failed to qualify for a second round in a row – the American crashed out of the session.
Whilst fighting to progress up the order, Block was tagged from behind by Haas driver Courtney Crone, spinning her car to face in the wrong direction on track. She managed to get going once again, but it was a different story for Chloe Chong, whose car was damaged as she tried to take avoiding action in the incident.
The chaos triggered an appearance by the Safety Car to neutralise the pack, putting Lloyd under pressure to execute a flawless restart.
Meanwhile, Felbermayr lost out for a second time as she dropped two positions to Pin and Hausmann. The Mercedes driver, and leader in the Drivers’ standings, then set out to hunt down Larsen in P4, with the two battling around the circuit until Pin finally claimed the spot with a superb overtake down the inside on Lap 9.
A flurry of penalties were dealt out on the next lap – Wild Card driver Farah AlYousef received a five-second penalty for a false start, while Crone was handed a 10 second penalty for causing a collision with Block.
Back at the front, there was no time to take a breath even as Race 1 neared its end. On Lap 12 of 13, Ferrari driver Weug skilfully snatched P2 from Palmowski, leaving the latter at the mercy of Pin.
Despite Lloyd’s earlier dominance, Weug was just half a second behind on the final lap, filling the British racer’s mirrors as the two fought in a drag race to chequered flag. Just one-tenth separated the duo over the line, but Lloyd held on brilliantly to secure her first victory in the series.
Maya Weug battled relentlessly to claim her first win of the season ahead of Chloe Chambers, with the Red Bull Ford driver finishing first on the road before being demoted to due to a penalty that arose for her intense on track contest with the Ferrari driver.
It was a flawless getaway for first-time polesitter Chambers despite the pressure of Doriane Pin lining up alongside her, who dominated in Jeddah last season. The American executed a strong launch while Pin lost her P2 spot to the charging Weug.
Focusing on keeping the gap to Chambers as small as possible, the Ferrari driver kicked off a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle for first place on the track – an attempted overtake round the outside of the American resulted in Weug taking a trip onto the run-off area.
But the fight at the front was far from over as Weug rattled over the kerb to send her car momentarily into the air, once again forcing her to drive wide and allowing Chambers to reclaim the lead.
Chambers began to build a small lead over her rivals, getting up to over a second for a short period, but her hopes of clinging onto the lead were dashed as she was handed a five second time penalty for forcing Weug off the track at Turn 22 during their tantalising battle.
With the field settling into a rhythm and three laps remaining, Chambers continued to extend her advantage at the front in order to salvage a potential podium.
The American racer needed a lap of qualifying speed to minimise her penalty and only drop her to P2, resulting in a fight on the timing sheets between her and Pin – the two were ultimately split by less than one tenth at the chequered flag, meaning that Chambers lost just one position.
She may have crossed the line in second the road, but the penalty promoted Weug to victory, making her the first Ferrari driver to win at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
The full top 10 are- P1: Weug, P2: Chambers, P3: Pin, P4: Palmowski, P5: Larsen, P6: Hausmann, P7: Gademan, P8: Lloyd, P9: Ciconte and P10: Chong.
Farah AlYousef will make her F1 Academy debut this weekend, as the Saudi Motorsport Company, the Promoter of the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025, have announced that she has been selected as the Wild Card entry for Round 2 in Jeddah.
AlYousef follows in the footsteps of Reema Juffali, who became the series’ first Wild Card driver when she competed at the opening round last year. The 22 year old will be getting behind the wheel of the #4 car operated by Hitech TGR.
After being crowned champion at the Saudi Women’s Karting Championship in 2022, AlYousef secured 26th place at the Karting World Finals and is set to represent Saudi Arabia at the FW Nations Cup Finals in Dubai this May.
In preparation for her F1 Academy debut, she has also race in the F4 Middle East Championship and has completed extensive testing at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, including three days of in-season testing in F1 Academy machinery.
Nominated by SMC, AlYousef, a rising talent in Saubi motorsport, was selected as part of a continued commitment from the promoter to empower local talent and create new opportunities for Saudi women to compete and thrive at the highest levels of international motorsport.
Racing as a Wild Card entry in the F1 ACADEMY on home soil here in Jeddah is truly a dream come true. Motorsport has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and to line up alongside some of the most talented young drivers in the world at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is an incredibly proud moment. I hope my participation inspires young girls across Saudi Arabia to believe in themselves and chase their dreams. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but moments like this remind me why I love racing. I’m ready to give it my all and represent my country with pride. The Saudi driver on the news.
F1 Academy has announced that Shi Wei, also known as ‘Tie Dou’ will be the first F1 Academy Wild Card entry for 2025, joining the grid for the opening round of the season at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Shi Wei has achieved impressive results in various racing series in China. In 2024, she won the Challenge Cup at the FIA F4 Chinese Championship in Shanghai and finished third in the CFGP category.
Shi will be the first Chinese driver to feature on an F1 Academy grid when she takes to the stage during Round 1 of the F1 Academy season.
Introduced for the 2024 season, the Wild Card initiative was created to help strengthen the talent pool in the regions where F1 Academy races and prioritises talented young drivers from each race region.
It’s an incredible honour to receive the Wild Card for F1 ACADEMY, giving me the opportunity to compete and learn alongside top drivers on a larger stage, making a dream that once seemed out of reach come true. Hopefully, I can inspire the young generation and raise greater attention to motorsport and the development of the automotive industry. Shi Wei on the news.
Shi Wei’s Wild Card entry into F1 ACADEMY represents not only a historic breakthrough for Chinese motorsport but also a powerful reflection of the power that defines Chinese women. We look forward to seeing her shine on the global stage and to the exciting opportunities this will create for future generations of female drivers. Huang Ming, General Manager of Shanghai Juss Sports Development.
Chloe Chong will be returning to F1 Academy this season, with the British driver teaming up with F1 Academy Official Partner, Charlotte Tilbury and filling the final full-time spot on this season’s grid.
The 17 year old previously raced in the series in 2023 as the youngest driver in the field. In her first season of single-seaters, Chong secured six points-scoring results, including three personal best finishes of sixth in Spielberg, Valencia and Austin.
Last year, Chong competed in British F4, achieving her highest result of seventh at Donington Park. She’ll now get her sophomore campaign underway behind the wheel of the 27 car operated by Rodin Motorsport.
I’m super happy to be making a return to F1 ACADEMY this season and to be representing Charlotte Tilbury. When I was first introduced to the brand, I instantly felt at home with their ethos of championing the magic of confidence and big dreams in order to achieve goals. I truly believe in setting myself up for success; so joining the Charlotte Tilbury family feels just like that. Their brand story is beyond inspiring, and it’s something I would like to replicate on track. I am grateful for their support in my career, and I can’t wait to shoot for the stars wearing their colours in the year ahead. Chong on the news.
MP Motorsport have finalised their roster for the 2025 season with Joanne Ciconte racing for the team in her rookie F1 Academy campaign.
Ciconte started off in karting aged nine, competing across regional and national championships at home in Australia, with successes including the 2023 Australian Karting Championship Pink Plate win. From there, she was selected as one of the four senior category finalists for that year’s FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme.
Transitioning to single seaters last year, Ciconte scored points in Australian F4 before continuing her development in Europe, participating in the Brno round of the Central European Zone F4 Championship.
A two round appearance in the highly competitive Spanish F4 Championship followed whilst her preparations for 2025 have been bolstered by showings in the Formula Winter Series last month.
I’m proud to be moving up into the F1 ACADEMY series with MP Motorsport. To be able to race in front of large crowds and the Formula 1 stars during Grand Prix weekends is a dream come true, and to be able to do that with such an experienced team like MP Motorsport is all I could ask for. I’m very much looking forward to get going with the first test to further hone the car and our cooperation and can’t wait to start my first race in Shanghai. Ciconte on the news.
Australian driver Aiva Anagnostiadis is set to join the F1 Academy grid as part of a new and innovative partnership with TAG Heuer, which will become an Official Partner and Timekeeper of the series in 2025.
The 17 year old will be behind the wheel of the TAG Heuer car operated by Hitech TGR.
Anagnostiadis has motorsport in her blood; her mother, Barbara, was a competitive go-karter, as well as her father who worked as a track mechanic. At six years old, she tried karting for the first time, igniting her passion for speed.
The Australian’s competitive spirit, especially in races against her brother James, drove her to focus on the sport after achieving podium finishes.
In 2022, she competed at the Motorsport Games in France and won the Australian Ladies Trophy in 2021. By 2024, she transitioned to car racing, testing regularly with Argenti Motorsport and finishing 10th in her debut season in the Indian F4 Championship.
I’m beyond excited for the 2025 season! This is an amazing opportunity, and working with a team like Hitech GP and a sponsor like TAG Heuer is a dream come true. I’m ready to chase my goals, and fight for every opportunity to win! Anagnostiadis on the news.
F1 Academy has announced an update to the Sporting Regulations for the 2025 season, which will see the return of reverse grid races.
The composition of the race weekend will remain the same as in 2024, with up to two Free Practices, one Qualifying session and two Races, with Race 1 becoming a reverse grid.
Under the updated regulations, Race 1 will become a reverse grid race. The grid for Race 1 will be set by reversing the top eight drivers from the Qualifying classification. All other drivers will start where they qualify. Points will be awarded to the top eight drivers and additionally, one point will be allocated to the driver who achieves the fastest lap time within the top eight classified drivers.
The format and points allocation for Race 2 will remain the same as during the 2024 season, with the grid set by the drivers’ fastest laps in Qualifying. Points for Race 2 will be awarded to the top ten classified drivers, in addition to one point for the driver who achieves the fastest lap within the top ten, and two points for the driver in pole position.
The return of the reverse grid in 2025 promises exciting racing with even more overtakes. The change will also challenge and develop our drivers’ race craft and prepare them to progress up the motorsport ladder, where reverse grids are a mainstay in the weekend format. Reverse grids are a fantastic chance for drivers who often qualify P5 – P8 to demonstrate their ability to race at the front, and a podium or race win can be just what it takes to unlock their full confidence and potential. Delphine Biscaye, Competition Manager F1 Academy.
Nicole Havrda will be racing in American Express colours in 2025, as the F1 Academy partner announced her as their chosen driver for the upcoming season.
The 19 year old began karting on home soil in 2019, achieving first place in the Calgary Shootout alongside success in the Rotax Max Finals.
Graduating to open-wheel racing in 2022, she achieved two top five finishes in the Indian Racing League Championship. The following year saw her make history, becoming the first female Formula Pro USA Champion as well as taking home the title in both SFR FA2 and the Formula Pro USA Winter Series.
In 2024, the Canadian competed in the Formula Regional Americas Championship, finishing sixth overall in her rookie campaign with four podiums to her name. In addition, she participated in two endurance races in an Audi R8 GT4.
I’m honoured to partner with American Express for my F1 ACADEMY debut this upcoming season, especially at the F1 Montreal Grand Prix in June. Their support fuels my drive to compete at the highest level and I’m thrilled to represent a brand that champions performance, resilience, and ambition, both on and off the track. Havrda on the news.
Tina Hausmann will be returning for a sophomore F1 Academy campaign after Aston Martin confirmed the 18 year old is to continue representing the team in 2025.
Once again driving with PREMA Racing, Hausmann clinched a top 10 finish in the Drivers’ Standings last season. The Swiss racer ended 2024 on top form, scoring her best result of fourth in the final race of the year at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking about her re-signing with the team, Hausmann said she’s eager to carry on the development she’s made and progress further this year.
Continuing to support Hausmann across her second year, Jessica Hawkins will remain in her role as Aston Martin’s Head of F1 Academy.
Looking back on the incredible opportunity of competing in the 2024 F1 ACADEMY series for Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team with PREMA Racing, countless precious and unforgettable moments come to mind. Being behind the wheel and pushing the limits on seven iconic racetracks around the world felt like a dream came true. The learning curve was steep and culminated in a strong result in the final race. Aston Martin Aramco supported me throughout the journey like a true family. Being behind the wheel and pushing the limits on seven iconic racetracks around the world felt like a dream came true. The learning curve was steep and culminated in a strong result in the final race. Aston Martin Aramco supported me throughout the journey like a true family. Representing Aston Martin Aramco and PREMA in the series is a huge honour and I’m very proud of it. On this global platform you are in the spotlight as an athlete and as an individual, but I feel fully supported in all situations by both teams. Everyone involved does an incredible job and is driven to perform. Hausmann on the news.
I am really excited to continue working with Tina in 2025 as she embarks on her second year in F1 ACADEMY. Over the past season, she has grown tremendously, gaining valuable experience and developing both her skills and confidence on track. I have no doubt that she will take everything she has learned and channel it into a strong, competitive campaign this year. I look forward to seeing her achieve new milestones as she builds on the solid foundation she has already established. Hawkins on the news.
Ferrari have announced that Maya Weug will once again represent the team, with the Dutch racer switching to compatriots MP Motorsport for the 2025 F1 Academy season.
Weug returns for her sophomore campaign in the series after achieving eight podiums last year, including her maiden single-seater victory in Race 3 at Yas Marina, on her way to finish third in the Drivers’ Standings.
The 20 year old joins the previously announced Alba Hurup Larsen at MP and the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member expressed her delight at teaming up with the Dutch team.
I can’t wait to get started with MP Motorsport for my second season in F1 ACADEMY. We’ll be working hard all year and fighting for more wins. Super proud to be racing in Ferrari colours again for 2025! It’s actually the first time in my motorsport career that I will represent a Dutch team, so that alone is quite special. MP have done well in the first two F1 ACADEMY seasons, always running up front and taking their share of wins, and it’s definitely my goal to add to those wins and challenge for the title. I very much look forward to competing in this year’s 14 races supporting the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends and showing the world what we’re made of. Maya Weug on the news.
Jordan's Track Talk 