Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: F1 Academy

  • F1 Teams Support F1 Academy in Multi-Year Partnership

    In a landmark agreement, F1 Academy and Formula 1 have announced that all 10 current Formula 1 teams have reaffirmed their commitment to sponsor an F1 Academy livery and driver in the all-female series as part of a multi-year partnership.

    Cadillac Formula 1 Team, who are joining the grid next year, have also confirmed that they will join the F1 Academy grid as a sponsor from 2027.

    The agreement not only reiterates the sport’s deep commitment to increasing female participation in motorsport, on and off the track, but also reflects the rapidly expanding and highly competitive pool of drivers competing for a seat in the all-female F4 level series.

    In addition, with a focus on deeper talent development, from 2027, drivers who have competed in the two previous seasons may be granted an exemption to race in the series for a third season, in accordance with the updated 2027 regulations.

    This new provision reflects a tailored approach to nurturing talent and will be granted exclusively to drivers whose performance indicates strong potential for continued growth throughout a third campaign.

    The commitment of long-term support from all ten current Formula 1 teams, and the addition of Cadillac to our grid from 2027, sends a powerful message about the future of F1 ACADEMY. We’re not just providing a platform for the current generation of female drivers; together, we’re building a pathway to support generations of talent to come. We continue to be impressed by the depth of female talent coming out of the world of karting and are encouraged by the growth and strength of the emerging talent pool. A sharpened focus on individualised talent development, including the opportunity for drivers with high potential to compete in up to three seasons, will give stand out drivers the support and platform needed to fully realise their potential, while ensuring that the F1 ACADEMY grid consistently features the very best female talent.
    Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy.

  • ERT announce F1 Academy Champion for Rookie Test

    Electric Racing Technologies have announced that reigning F1 Academy Champion, Marta Garcia will represent the team in the upcoming Berlin Rookie Test.

    Ahead of the highly-anticipated Monaco E-Prix this weekend, the Shanghai-Silverstone based squad have shared the exciting news that they labeled as a “significant milestone in motorsport”.

    Garcia is a hugely influential and talented driver, who gained worldwide attention when she won the very first season of F1 Academy last year.
    With the Managing Director of F1 Academy being former Venturi Formula E Team Principal, Susie Wolff.

    This season, Garcia will be racing with Iron Dames in the highly competitive Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA).

    The Berlin Rookie Test allows teams to give new talent a chance to try the latest Formula E machinery, as has been the birthplace for many of the biggest talents in the paddock today.

    I am thrilled to join ERT Formula E Team for the Berlin Rookie Test. Formula E represents the future of motorsport, and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to experience it firsthand. I’ve been following the championship closely, and I’m eager to get behind the wheel of the ERT X24 car and contribute to the team’s development. This test is a stepping stone in my career, and I’m determined to make the most of it.
    Garcia on the news.

    We are incredibly excited to welcome Marta García to the ERT Formula E family for the Berlin Rookie Test. Marta’s exceptional talent and achievements in F1 Academy are undeniable. This test serves as a fantastic platform to showcase her skills within the dynamic environment of Formula E. We are confident that Marta will quickly adapt to the unique demands of electric racing and provide valuable insights for the team.
    Alex Hui, Team Principal of ERT Formula E Team.

  • First F1 Academy driver announced

    Leah Buhler has become the first driver announced to be racing in the F1 Academy – Formula 1’s new all female driver series – with confirmation that she will join ART Grand Prix.

    The 25 year old racer first began competing in BMX at an international level, before switching over to karting in 2016. Four years later, Buhler made her single-seater debut, claiming six top 10 finishes in the Spanish Formula 4 Championship.

    She then became the first female driver to race in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in 2021, recording a best result of 20th, but was forced to end her second campaign early last year.

    Buhler is currently driving in the Formula 4 UAE Championship ahead of her F1 Academy debut.

    The first of ART’s trio of drivers to be announced, Buhler will be competing in a 15 car grid with Campos Racing, Carlin, MP Motorsport and PREMA Racing also all fielding three cars each.

    It’s with great pleasure that I will be able to discover the first F1 Academy championship and even more so with ART Grand Prix, a team with a fantastic record. It will be a great challenge for me and for the team as we learn more about this new single-seater. I am looking forward to coming to grips with it. This will only be my fourth year in motorsport and I still have a lot to learn, but I am ready to give 100% both mentally and physically to honour the trust ART Grand Prix has in me, together with that of my partners, without whom this adventure would not be possible.

    Buhler on her seat.

    We are happy to welcome Lena to our team. She will be one of the first 15 drivers to write her name in the history books of the F1 Academy. This corresponds perfectly to the philosophy of ART Grand Prix, which is to help young drivers climb the ladder of the junior formulas which lead to the highest level of motorsport. The team will do everything sportingly, humanly and technically possible to take up this new historic challenge with Lena.

    ART Team Principal, Sebastien Philippe.

  • F1 Academy announces five teams

    The all woman F1 Academy series have confirmed the team line-up for the inaugural campaign in 2023.

    Five veteran outfits in junior categories have confirmed their entries for next year with ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, Carlin, MP Motorsport and PREMA Racing fielding three cars each to comprise the 15 car grid.

    Each team has an established history in junior racing including the Formula 2 and Formula 3 Championships, and will now be adding the all-women driver category to their motorsport setup from next year.

    F1 Academy focuses on young women drivers emerging in the junior ranks and aiding them in progressing to the higher levels of single seater racing.

    The first season will include seven events and with such experienced teams forming the ’23 line up, the drivers will gain vital experience both in and out of the car, helping each achieve their full potential.

    It is exciting to be able to announce the five teams that will be racing in the F1 Academy for next year and who will be providing this fantastic opportunity to the young and talented women to begin their journey into competitive motorsport. We believe it is important that everyone has the chance to follow their ambitions and get the support and guidance needed to progress and excel. The F1 Academy is an important part of our plan to increase diversity and representation in motorsport and we are looking forward to the first season in 2023 and stay tuned for more news in this area.

    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.

    I am very pleased to reveal the five teams entering the F1 Academy for the next three-year cycle, starting from 2023. We know them very well and we have been collaborating with each one for many years. They are well-known for their experience and expertise in nurturing and developing young drivers. I fully trust that they will give the drivers competing in the F1 Academy the keys to grow technically, and that they will help them with the physical and mental preparations for the journey ahead.

    Bruno Michel, General Manger of the 1 Academy.

  • F1 announces F1 Academy

    Starting in 2023, Formula 1 will be launching an all-female driver category, the F1 Academy to develop and prepare young female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition – including W Series, Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3.

    The series will consist of five teams run by current F2 and F3 teams, each entering three cars to make up a 15 car grid. The first season will comprise of seven events with three races – amounting to a total of 21 races – plus 15 days of official testing, with the 2023 calendar set to be released in due course.

    The drivers will be getting behind the wheel f Tatuus T421 chassis, with Autotecnica supplying turbocharged engines that will deliver 165 horsepower while Formula 1’s Global Partner Pirelli will provide the tyres.

    The series – which will be managed by the CEO of Formula Motorsport Bruno Michel – will see Formula 1 subsidise the cost of each car with a budget of €150,000 whilst the drivers cover the same amount of costs – a fraction of the usual costs in comparable series – with the teams covering the rest of the budget.

    The aim of the series is to maximise the opportunity and potential of young female drivers to reach the highest level in motorsport and to provide young talent currently in go-karting or other junior categories with access to the fundamental level of experience needed before going racing in F3 and joining the pyramid to Formula 1.

    Formula 1’s intentions are to ensure aspiring female drivers have the best opportunities to reach their potential, with an important first step of getting into Formula 3 and progressing through the ranks.

    The W Series continues to provide a great platform for drivers and the F1 Academy is intended to add an extra route for the next generation of young female drivers, who will race in an environment that will allow them to gain fundamental experience thanks to a great amount of track time.

    Everyone should have the opportunity to follow their dreams and achieve their potential and Formula 1 wants to ensure we are doing everything we can to create greater diversity and routes into this incredible sport. That is why I am delighted to announce the F1 Academy that will give young female drivers the best chance to fulfil their ambitions through a comprehensive programme that supports their racing careers and gives them everything they need to move into F3 and hopefully to F2 and then the pinnacle of Formula 1. The more opportunity there is the better and this is designed to provide another route for the drivers to succeed.

    Formula 1 President & CEO, Stefano Domenicali.

    I am very excited to launch this new category. Diversity is extremely important in motorsport, and with the F1 Academy we will prove that female drivers have what it takes to compete at high levels. I am absolutely convinced that if young women are given the same amount of experience as any other driver, they can successfully make their way through the pyramid. Our goal is to see female drivers on the F3 grid in the next two to three years, and for them to quickly challenge for points and podiums. The aim is to increase the field in the near future, because we hope that this category will inspire more young girls to compete in motorsport at the highest of levels.

    Bruno Michel, Manager of the F1 Academy.