F1 Academy | All you need to know

Content

• What is the F1 Academy?
• The calendar of the F1 Academy
• The F1 Academy drivers & teams
• Support class of F1
  
• Current F1 Academy drivers

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What is the F1 Academy?

The F1 Academy was created in 2023 as the W Series fell into administration. The racing class focuses on the development of women within motorsports. Susie Wolff is the managing director of the racing class and is very excited about the upcoming 2024 season with 7 rounds of racing.

The class has close ties with F1, which is funding the project with 2.25 million euros, meaning the drivers themselves have to put in 150,000 euros and F1 puts down the same amount per driver with 15 drivers in total.

There will also be a collaboration with the Champions of the Future (COTF) kart class starting in 2024. This is a new junior class, where female karting talents can advance to the F1 Academy. James Geidel, the president of the COTF, will work closely with Wolff.

The races will be run in a Formula 4 car, namely the Tatuus T421. This model constitutes the second generation of the Italian manufacturer's F4 cars. However, the rear wing of the car has been modified to facilitate overtaking. There are seven race weekends, in which three races are run each time. These 21 races in the season and as many as 15 official test days allow the drivers to gain experience with the ultimate goal of stepping up to F3 and F2.

Below is the 2024 F1 Academy calendar

F1 Academy drivers & teams

The drivers for the 2024 season have not yet been announced. In season 2023, Campos Racing, MP Motorsport, Art Grand Prix, Rodin Carlin & Prema Racing formed the teams in the F1 Academy. Each team has 3 cars and 3 drivers, making 15 cars and 15 drivers in total within the class.

However, as of the 2024 season, it is mandatory for Formula 1 teams to sign up 1 driver for the F1 Academy and provide their own livery for that driver's car. This will provide 10 drivers from Formula 1 teams. The remaining 5 drivers will be supported by other racing teams, which will be announced later within the F1 Academy.

Support class of F1

In the 2024 season, the F1 Academy will serve as a support class for F1. As a result, we will see the class in action at the Dutch Grand Prix. Susie Wolff is very excited about this development and sees it as an opportunity to inspire young girls and women worldwide.

"I would like to thank the Formula 1 teams for their support and vision in starting this journey together," said Wolff.

Current F1 Academy drivers

In the all-female category, there are some recognisable individuals poised to compete, with the objective of nurturing young female drivers for advancement in the motorsport hierarchy.

Several of these drivers have previously participated in W Series, such as Abbi Pulling, Nerea Marti, and Marta Garcia, who race for Rodin Carlin, Campos Racing, and Prema Racing, respectively.

The MP Motorsport team features siblings in their lineup, as Amna Al Qubaisi and Hamda Al Qubaisi race alongside each other.

Check out the full 2023 F1 Academy driver line-up below