F1 Academy
Officially Formula 1 Academy
All-female single-seater feeder motorsport championship founded by Formula 1 in 2023 — 5 teams × 3 cars = 15 grid; support races at 7 F1 Grand Prix weekends (2024-25); managed by Susie Wolff; provides direct pathway to F1 for women drivers.
What is F1 Academy?
F1 Academy is an all-female single-seater feeder motorsport championship founded by Formula 1 (Formula One Management, FOM) in November 2022 with inaugural season 2023 — the first fully female single-seater championship organized by F1 as part of a wider commitment to increase women's participation in motorsport. Managing Director since 2023: Susie Wolff MBE (former Williams F1 development driver + wife of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff). Format: 15 drivers across 5 teams (each team fielding 3 cars). From 2024, all 5 teams have direct branding partnerships with F1 Grand Prix racing teams (Alpine, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Haas, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, VCARB, Williams). Cars are F4-spec Tatuus T-421 chassis with 1.4L Autotecnica-tuned Abarth engines producing ~165 hp. Season format: 7 rounds × 3 races per round = 21 races, all held as support races at F1 Grand Prix weekends (2024: Jeddah, Miami, Barcelona, Zandvoort, Singapore, Qatar, Abu Dhabi). Champions: Marta García (ESP, inaugural 2023 champion), Abbi Pulling (GBR, 2024 champion — awarded free Formula GB4/British F4 season prize), Chloe Chambers (USA, 2025 champion). Netflix series 'F1: The Academy' premiered 2025 following in Drive to Survive footsteps.
Quick facts
Category
Motor Sports
Type
Individual
Players
15–15
Duration
~30 min
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Estimated origin
Founded November 2022; inaugural season 2023
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Score most championship points across 7 rounds × 3 races per round.
Match structure
Practice → Qualifying → 3 races per round; reverse-grid Race 1 + standard grid Race 2 + 3.
Rules
Basic rules
F1 support race schedule (7 rounds × 3 races)
All races held as F1 GP weekend support races 2024-25.
F4-spec single-seater
Standardized Tatuus T-421 chassis; equal cars.
Reverse-grid Race 1
Race 1 grid = reverse of Race 2 qualifying (top 8 typically).
Season prize = F4/GB4 seat for champion
Champion awarded funded F4/British F4 season prize.
Scoring
F1-style points system per race; total across 3 races per round + season.
Win condition · Highest championship points at end of 7-round season.
Equipment
Tatuus T-421 chassis (F4-spec)
FIA F4 single-seater; carbon fiber monocoque, 1.4L Autotecnica-tuned Abarth engine ~165 hp.
Pirelli slick + wet tires
F1 official supplier — Pirelli tires (same brand as F1).
Driver safety gear (HANS, helmet, race suit)
FIA 8859-2015 helmet + HANS device + FIA 8856 race suit + boots + gloves.
Positions & roles
Driver (15 grid)
×155 F1-team-branded teams × 3 drivers each.
Race Engineer / Team
×4Support team providing setup + strategy.
Officiating
FIA sanctioning + race stewards panel.
- FIA Race Director
- Stewards (3)
- Timing Officials
Major competitions
F1 Academy Championship
annual · worldwide (F1 support race schedule) · since 2023
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Formula 1 Management (FOM)
Founded 1974 · London, UK
FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile)
Founded 1904 · Paris, France
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Susie Wolff MBE (Managing Director)
- Marta García (ESP — inaugural 2023 champion)
- Abbi Pulling (GBR — 2024 champion)
- Chloe Chambers (USA — 2025 champion)
- Lia Block (USA — Ken Block's daughter)
- Doriane Pin (FRA)
- Bianca Bustamante (PHL)
Records
Marta García inaugural 2023 champion
Marta García (ESP) — First-ever F1 Academy champion, 2023 season (2023)
Abbi Pulling 2024 champion
Abbi Pulling (GBR) — 2024 F1 Academy champion; awarded funded British F4 season (2024)
Netflix F1: The Academy series premiered 2025
Netflix / F1 — Documentary series following F1 Academy premiered on Netflix May 2025 (2025)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — F1 Academy— Wikipedia
- F1 Academy official— Formula 1