F1 Academy 2026: Teams, Drivers & the Reverse-Grid Revolution

F1 Academy heads into its most competitive season yet.
Eighteen drivers will race identical Formula 4 cars across seven Formula 1 support weekends, delivering 14 races and a global stage.

Backing the series is Lego, whose landmark sponsorship targets the 400 million women watching F1 worldwide, roughly 42% of the sport’s global audience.

Race Format: Racing That Rewards Everyone

Each race weekend delivers two chances to shine:

Friday
• Free Practice (45 minutes)
• Qualifying

Saturday — Race 1: Reverse Grid
• Top 8 from qualifying reversed
• Qualifying P1 starts P8
• Qualifying P8 starts on pole

Sunday — Race 2: Standard Grid
• Starting order follows qualifying results

The reverse-grid format flips the script. Qualifying stars must carve through traffic, while drivers in P5–P8 get a clear shot at victory.

The result? Unpredictable racing.
In 2025, nine different drivers won Race 1, the most diverse winner list in series history.

2026 Calendar (All F1 Support Events)

Mar 13–15 – Shanghai
Apr 17–19 – Jeddah
May 22–24 – Montreal
Jul 3–5 – Silverstone (new round)
Aug 21–23 – Zandvoort
Oct 23–25 – Austin
Nov 19–21 – Las Vegas (season finale)

Teams & Drivers

Rodin Motorsport

The McLaren-backed contender

• Ella Lloyd – McLaren junior, 2025 Rookie of the Year
• Emma Felbermayr – Audi-backed driver entering year two
• Ella Stevens – McLaren Oxagon junior and team rookie

MP Motorsport

• Nina Gademan – graduate of the junior ladder
• Esmee Kosterman – Lego-supported wildcard graduate
• Third driver – TBA

Campos Racing

One of the fastest squads on the grid

• Alisha Palmowski – Red Bull-backed standout
• Rafaela Ferreira – Racing Bulls development driver
• Megan Bruce – TAG Heuer supported entrant

ART Grand Prix

• Kaylee Countryman – Haas junior
• Lisa Billard – Gatorade-backed talent
• Jade Jacquet – Williams-supported driver

Hitech Grand Prix

• Ava Dobson – American Express supported
• Rachel Robertson – Puma-backed driver
• Shi Wei

Prema Racing

• Mathilda Paatz – Aston Martin junior
• Second driver – TBA

The Business Engine: Female Fan Economics

F1 Academy isn’t just about developing drivers—it’s about unlocking a fast-growing fanbase.

Key indicators:

• $30M title sponsorship from Lego (3-year deal)
• Women drive 68% of weekend ticket purchases
• Female TV audience nearing 45% globally
• Hospitality demand from female fans up 22%
• Girls’ karting participation up 35% since 2024

The pipeline is working—and the market is responding.

A New Era for Women in Motorsport

Reverse grids are doing more than creating overtakes—they’re changing perceptions.

When a driver who qualified first starts eighth and fights through the field to win, the message is clear: talent wins races.

The success of Doriane Pin in 2025 proved the model works both on track and commercially. Sponsors see the value, young fans see possibility, and teams see a new generation of stars.

The Bigger Picture

F1 Academy’s formula is simple:

Identical cars. Equal opportunity. Global exposure.

And with 18 drivers across 14 races, the message for 2026 is unmistakable:

Talent writes history. 🏁

By Barbara Cardilli

Motorsport & Lifestyle Expert | Chief Editor