F1 Academy aims to break motorsport's male stronghold
Mar 14th 2026
The female-only championship gives young women funding, training and track time to tackle cultural and financial barriers to progress toward Formula 1.
- F1 Academy was created by the Formula 1 Group in 2023 to increase the pool of female drivers and help return women to Formula 1.
- The series runs 14 races across seven rounds in single-seater cars similar to Formula 4, and the champion earns a fully funded race seat.
- Most drivers get two years of academy support with limited exemptions for a third season to aid development.
- Women remain underrepresented in motorsport, making up about 10 percent of drivers overall, 13 percent in karting and 7 percent in higher categories, with the last woman in an F1 race in 1976.
- Drivers face cultural barriers and high costs, with entry-level karting often costing around £7,500 and frequent pressure to prove themselves quickly.
- F1 Academy has multi-year partnerships with all 11 F1 teams and major sponsors, and past champions have moved into team development roles; the 2026 season opens in Shanghai on 13-15 March.