F1 Academy set for a landmark first later this month in Spain

On Thursday, the all-female F1 Academy series announced an upcoming first for the sport.

At the next official testing session, slated for later this month at Circuito de Navarra in Spain, the sport will conduct it’s first rookie test. Over those two days eighteen drivers, all eligible to compete in the F1 Academy next season, will immerse themselves within an F1 Academy team on a “fair stage for the rookies to show they deserve a full-time seat for a Wild Card entry for the 2026 season.”

On the first day, the rookie drivers will be placed with an F1 Academy team to “observe briefing and engineering sessions.” The drivers will also take part in “physical and cognitive assessments” to “support their individual development and progression.”

Then on the second day the 18 drivers -- all between the ages of 15 and 21 -- will take to the track in F1 Academy cars, with a total of six testing hours available at Circuito de Navarra.

These are the 18 drivers selected for the first-of-its-kind F1 Academy rookie test:

Lisa Billard
Laura Bourquet
Annabelle Brian
Megan Bruce
Alexia Danielsson
Eva Dorrestijn
Autumn Fisher
Zoe Florescu Potolea
Natalia Granada
Alexandra Herve
Jade Jacquet
Imogen Radburn
Rachel Robertson
Michalina Sabaj
Emma Scarbrough
Ella Stevens
Alexandra Vateva
Payton Westcott

Suzie Wolff, the Managing Director of the F1 Academy, hailed the news as a “landmark” moment not just for the series but for motorsport.

“This is a landmark moment, not just for F1 Academy as a series, but for our sport. Over the past thee years, the global female talent pool has grown stronger and more competitive, and our priority is to ensure that we have the best possible drivers competing in F1 Academy,” said Wolff in the announcement. “With this test, we are providing eighteen of the most promising talents with an equitable platform for them to demonstrate that they deserve a seat on the F1 Academy grid.”

“This test is more than just a statement of intent; it reflects our deep-rooted commitment to identifying and nurturing the next generation of female talent and strengthening the future talent pipeline,” said Katie Denver, F1 Academy’s Performance & Talent Development Manager. “Change demands meaningful action, and our mission is to create a clearer, more accessible pipeline that breaks down barriers, and creates a pathway for the most talented to succeed.”

The upcoming F1 Academy testing session takes place before the sixth round of the 2025 F1 Academy season, slated for Singapore at the start of October. The 2025 F1 Academy season concludes in November at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where the series will become the first support series to run at F1’s newest Grand Prix.