The 2026 Season of F1 Academy kicks off this weekend, and with only six returning drivers, the championship is set to be intense.
After a dramatic end to the 2025 F1 Academy Season, it was Doriane Pin who became the fourth F1 Academy Champion. Now, the returning drivers are looking to make their mark.
After many drivers hit their two year cap in 2025, there are only six drivers who return to the 18 car grid. Ella Lloyd leads the challenge as the highest placed rookie of 2025. Behind her, Alisha Palmowksi, Nina Gademan and Emma Felbermayer will be looking to once again step onto the highest step of the podium. Rafaela Ferraria and Alba Larsen will be looking to capitalise on their experience and claim their maiden wins in 2026.
Ella Lloyd
2025’s highest placed rookie, Ella Lloyd enters her 2026 campaign with continued support from the McLaren Development Programme. Racing for Rodin Motorsport alongside Ella Stevens and Emma Felbermayer, Lloyd will be looking to secure additional victories in her 2026 campaign
In 2025, Lloyd finished fourth in the standings with 109 points. With one victory and a further four podiums, the Welsh driver will be looking to translate race experience to speed at Shanghai this weekend.
After only started her career four years ago at the 2022 Ginetta Junior Championship, the 20 year old has been on a rapid rise through the single seater series. Additionally, Lloyd has also secured previous Rookie and Women’s Test Seats in the Formula E Championship. Recently, Lloyd was announced to make her fourth appearance in the Gen3 car, with Envision Racing at the 2026 Madrid Rookie Test.
Alisha Palmowski
Backed by Red Bull Racing once more, Alisha Palmowski will be looking to challenge for the F1 Academy title in 2026. With one too many incidents costing the British driver valuable points, Palmowski finished the 2025 Season in fifth.
After securing her maiden victory in the opening round, the 19 year old ended 2025 with an additional five podiums and 91 points. In 2026, she will continue with Campos Racing alongside 2025 teammate Rafaela Ferrari and Megan Bruce.
Following the season, Palmowski was once again behind the wheel in the Formula Winter Series in Estoril. Securing a fourth place and two women’s trophies, the Brit enters her 2026 campaign full of confidence.
Alba Larsen
One of the stars of F1 Academy, Alba Larsen enters 2026 backed by Ferrari. After joining the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy in late 2025, Larsen will sport the prancing horse and Whoop in 2026.
In 2025, Larsen finishes seventh in the standings with 70 points, however her maiden podium has escaped her so far. In the opening round at Shanghai, Larsen achieved her best finish of the Season with a fourth in the Feature Race.
At only 17 years old, Larsen will continue as one of the youngest drivers in the field. However, age is only a number for Larsen with her resume being one of the largest in the field. In 2023 Larsen won the Senior category of the 2023 FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars programme. in 2024, She went on to make her single-seater debut in the Indian F4 Championship, scoring points in her maiden weekend. While in 2025, the danish driver kept busy, also competing in British F4 Championship and the F4 UAE Championship over the winter break.
Heading into 2026, Larsen will continue with MP Motorsport, however with two new teammates. Larsen will join fellow returning driver Nina Gademan, as well as Esmee Kosterman.
Nina Gademan
Finishing sixth in the 2025 F1 Academy Standings, Nina Gademan is one of the strongest drivers heading into 2026. The Dutch driver will continue to be supported by Alpine in 2026, however will now race with MP Motorsport. The move to the Dutch team marks a new chapter in her career as she build on the experiences gained during her first full victory.
During her 2025 Season, Gademan a victory at home in Race 1 at Zandvoort and a further three podiums at Montreal and Las Vegas respectively. After scoring points in all seven rounds, Gademan will be looking for continued consistency in her second season.
Heading into Shanghai, Gademan is seen as a driver capable of fighting at the top end of the field. With improved circuit knowledge and a team that has represented at the front of the field, the 22 year old should be able to challenge for more wins in 2026.
Emma Felbermayr
Heading into the 2026 F1 Academy season, Emma Felbermayr will be aiming for greater consistency. The Austrian driver claimed a standout win in Race 2 at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix. However, she ultimately finished tenth in the championship with 37 points.
While showing strong pace toward the end of the season, including a fourth in Singapore, Felbermayr struggled to match the consistency of the front runners. Prior to the start of the F1 Academy season, the 19-year-old competed in Spanish F4 and the UAE4 Series.
In 2026, Felbermayr will continue with Rodin Motorsport, alongside Lloyd and Stevens. Her season will also be supported by the Audi, becoming the second driver to join the team’s Driver Development Programme. Felbermayr will benefit from the programme’s resources and expertise covering on-track performance, development and public relations.
With this support, Felbermayr enters 2026 better equipped to improve her consistency, and challenge for podiums in F1 Academy. The former Sauber driver now has a strong platform to make a mark in the 2026 F1 Academy Season.
Rafaela Ferreira
Rafaela Ferreira heads into the 2026 F1 Academy season with the intention to build on her rookie year. The Brazilian driver scored 18 points over seven different races in 2025, finishing 12th in the standings.
In her first campaign outside of South America, the 20 year old was supported by VCARB Academy Programme. Retaining her seat for Campos Racing and under the Red Bull F1 Academy banner, Ferreira will look for consistency in 2026.
During her first season, the Brazilian often struggled to deliver strong qualifying performances, which left her starting mid-pack. Heading into 2026, improving her single last pace will be crucial to challenge for regular points and podium finishes.
Outside of F1 Academy, Ferreira made history as the first woman to win a race in the F4 Brazilian Championship. In 2025, she achieved a best result of P5 in Shanghai Race 1. Throughout the season, the Brazilian showed flashes of promise and steadily improving her pace as the season progressed.
F1 Academy This Weekend…
The 2026 F1 Academy Season returns this weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix. All 17 drivers and this Round’s Wildcard Shi Wei will return to the Shanghai International Circuit at 9:10am local time (1:10am GMT) for Free Practice.