As F1 Academy reaches the halfway point of its second season, this recap provides you with the crucial information you need to know about the all-female racing series.
What is F1 Academy?
Founded by F1, F1 Academy is an all-female, junior-level single-seater racing championship.
With the grid consisting of 15 identical cars, 16 when the Wild Card entry is present, all competitors must be aged between 16 and 25.
In 2023, it was announced by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali that the 2024 season would exclusively take place on select F1 weekends. This was a crucial decision, with the series joining the support bill alongside F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup.
At this stage, all drivers may only compete in two seasons of the series.
The Weekend Format
The F1 Academy weekend format consists of:
- Up to two Free Practice sessions – 40 minutes each
- Qualifying Session – 30 minutes
- Race 1 – 30 minutes
- Race 2 – 30 minutes
The Starting Grid
The starting grid for Race 1 is determined by each driver’s fastest lap in Qualifying.
The starting grid for Race 2 is determined by each driver’s second fastest lap in Qualifying.
Points Distribution
The drivers who achieve pole position for Race 1 and Race 2 following the Qualifying session are awarded two points.
The points distribution system is the same for both Races 1 and 2. The top 10 classified drivers are awarded 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 points respectively.
One point is also awarded to the driver who achieves the fastest valid lap time in each race, providing they finish in the top 10 in the final race classification.
Wild Card Entry
Introduced in 2024, the Wild Card entry allows talented young female drivers to participate at select race weekends across the F1 Academy calendar. These selected entrants will be from the host region of that specific race weekend, offering them the opportunity to score points in the Drivers’ Standings.
PREMA Racing, the reigning team champions, operate the Wild Card car at races where there is a Wild Card entry, as well as offering crucial support and training to the selected driver.
FIA Super Licence Points
The FIA Super Licence is a driver’s qualification which potentially allows them to compete in the Formula One World Championship.
To secure an FIA Super Licence, a driver must accumulate 40 licence points over a three-year period in junior racing series.
In F1 Academy, the top five drivers in the 2024 Drivers’ Standings will receive FIA Super Licence points.
The winner of the 2024 season will receive 10 points, with the drivers in second and third place collecting seven and five points respectively. Three points will be given to the driver who finishes in fourth place whilst the driver in fifth place will receive one point.
Where Does F1 Academy Take Place?
In 2024, the F1 Academy calendar sees the drivers race in Jeddah, Miami, Barcelona, Zandvoort, Singapore, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The Future of F1 Academy
This year, it was announced that F1 Academy would become the centre of a multi-part docuseries, debuting on Netflix in 2025.
Produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, the series will give viewers exclusive behind-the-scenes access as these young female drivers navigate breaking into one of the most adrenaline-fuelled and demanding sports in the world.
This news came after the announcement that F1 Academy the 2024 season was being broadcast in over 160 territories. Furthermore, the series is also being streamed live on F1 Academy’s YouTube channel and on X via F1 TV.
This is essential for F1 Academy’s mission to make the series as accessible as possible following the growing success of other motorsport series.
Featured Image Photo by Prema Racing