The all-female racing series is in the midst of its second season, following the Formula 1 calendar over seven weekends. With the championship still in its infancy, here is everything you need to know about the pioneering F1 Academy.
Why was F1 Academy created?
A similar all-female series, W Series, promoted women in motorsport between 2019 and 2022, with a season in 2020 cancelled due to the pandemic. It fell into administration and was eventually liquidated, leaving a space for another platform to inspire young girls and give them female role models.
F1 Academy launched in 2023 with the slogan: “When the odds are against her, we’re here to make them even.” The series was originally announced by Formula 1 in November 2022 and aims to ease the transition from karting to single-seater championships. Susie Wolff, a former racing driver in her own right, was brought in as managing director after leaving her role as team principal and CEO of Formula E’s Venturi Racing.
F1 outlined the progression path for F1A drivers. In theory, they begin in the all-female series, then are promoted to Formula 3, then Formula 2. This means that one day in the next few years there should be a female driver in Formula 1.
Who won F1 Academy in 2023?
The inaugural championship was won by Marta Garcia driving for Prema Racing. The Spanish driver has since moved on to joining the Iron Dames, an all-female racing team that competes in a range of championships. She partners Mercedes junior Doriane Pin, who is currently second in the standings in this season of F1 Academy. Garcia is racing in the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA). She previously raced in W Series and is now 23-years-old.
She won the 2023 F1A series with two races to go, eventually finishing on 278 points ahead of Lena Buhler on 222 points. Garcia took victory in seven out of 21 races, and has since participated in a Formula E test for ERT in Berlin.
Who are the F1 Academy drivers?
All drivers must be women between the ages of 16 and 25. This season, there are 15 permanent drivers on the grid. At each race on the calendar, a 16th driver from the local area joins for the weekend as a wildcard.
The permanent drivers and their race numbers are:
- Lola Lovinfosse (3)
- Emely de Heus (7)
- Hamda Al Qubaisi (8)
- Abbi Pulling (9)
- Chloe Chambers (14)
- Carrie Schreiner (15)
- Bianca Bustamante (16)
- Jessica Edgar (17)
- Tina Hausmann (19)
- Aurelia Nobels (22)
- Doriane Pin (28)
- Nerea Marti (30)
- Lia Block (57)
- Maya Weug (64)
- Amna Al Qubaisi (88)
What teams compete in F1 Academy?
Five teams compete in F1 Academy, each with three drivers. The teams also take part in Formula 2 and 3, providing a clear pathway for drivers to be promoted in the future.
The teams are PREMA Racing (2023 team champions), MP Motorsport, ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, and Rodin Motorsport.
PREMA’s drivers are Maya Weug, Doriane Pin, and Tina Hausmann.
MP’s drivers are Amna Al Qubaisi, Hamda Al Qubaisi, and Emely de Heus.
ART GP’s drivers are Bianca Bustamante, Aurelia Nobels, and Lia Block.
Campos’ drivers are Nerea Marti, Carrie Schreiner, and Chloe Chambers.
Rodin’s drivers are Lola Lovinfosse, Abbi Pulling, and Jessica Edgar.
How is Formula 1 involved in F1 Academy?
Formula 1 launched the series and is formally linked to it, with each F1 team supporting a driver.
Red Bull Racing – Hamda Al Qubaisi
Ferrari – Maya Weug
McLaren – Bianca Bustamante
Mercedes – Doriane Pin
Aston Martin – Tina Hausmann
RB – Amna Al Qubaisi
Haas – Chloe Chambers
Williams – Lia Block
Kick Sauber – Carrie Schreiner
The F1A liveries correspond with each F1 team, further reinforcing the link between the two series.
The remaining five drivers are all supported by major partners, including Charlotte Tilbury (Lola Lovinfosse), American Express (Jessica Edgar), PUMA (Aurelia Nobels), Tommy Hilfiger (Nerea Marti), and Red Bull Ford (Emely de Heus).
How are the race weekends formatted?
The race weekend structure in F1A has changed since its inaugural season in 2023. Initially, there were three races per weekend, with seven rounds in total. Races 1 and 3 were 30-minutes long, whereas Race 2 was 20-minutes and featured a reverse grid.
In Races 1 and 3, the top 10 finishers received points identical to Formula 1; 25 points were on offer for the win, followed by 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 for the rest of the finishers. Two points were also awarded to each polesitter, and an extra point was available if someone in the top 10 completed the fastest lap of the race.
Alternatively, in the shorter Race 2, only the top eight finishers received points. The winner received 10 points and those behind them got 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point respectively. Like the standard races, an extra point was available for the fastest lap.
This system was overhauled and simplified for the 2024 season. Racers get two free practice sessions before heading out for a 30-minute qualifying session. In this, each driver’s fastest time sets the order for Race 1. The second-fastest times set the order for Race 2.
Eahc pole position holder receives one point, and those who finish in the top 10 and set the fastest lap of each race also receive an extra point. The points system for both races are now identical to Formula 1, with the winner dealt 25 points.
Where does F1 Academy race?
F1 Academy follows the Formula 1 calendar across seven rounds. In 2024, the calendar is as below:
Are all F1 Academy cars the same?
The cars are identical across the grid, and have the same chassis as Formula 4 cars, formally called the Tatuus F4-T421, designed in 2022. They can reach a top speed of 240km/h or 149mph. The engine can deliver up to 174 horsepower and the cars use Pirelli tyres, just as Formula 1 cars do. For reference, the top speed of a Formula 3 car is 257km/h, demonstrating that F1A is a slight step lower on the single-seater ladder.
The cars have paddle shift and six gears, and can reach 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds. Just like all formula cars, they also feature a steel halo that acts as a safety feature in case of serious incidents. It protects the driver’s head and was made mandatory by the FIA for single-seater series in 2018.
Where can I watch F1 Academy?
Controversially, the 2023 series was not streamed live for international audiences, with the exception of the finale held at the Circuit of the Americas. Highlights and video clips were uploaded after each round.
Once F1 teams became formally involved in the series, a broadcast deal was organised. In the UK, all races are streamed by Sky Sports. The sessions can also be viewed on the F1 Academy YouTube channel and X account. This has made the series far more accessible for audiences, with their YouTube livestreams hitting an average of 163K views across the opening two rounds in Jeddah and Miami.
Featured Image Credit: Red Bull Content Pool
