F1 ACADEMY RETURNS WITH SEASON OPENER IN SHANGHAI – FULL GRID
The 2026 F1 Academy season gets underway this weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit. The championship continues its development with a grid made up of promising rookies from karting and various Formula 4 championships, alongside several drivers entering their second season in the series.
Following the departure of several key figures from last yearm including 2025 champion Doriane Pin, the competitive order is difficult to predict. However, Alisha Palmowski is widely considered the early favourite. The opening round in Shanghai will provide the first real indication of which drivers and teams could be fighting at the front this season.
Rodin Motorsport
Emma Felbermayr
The Austrian begins her second F1 Academy season with Rodin Motorsport after finishing 10th in the 2025 championship. She will now be supported by the Audi–Revolut F1 Team.
Ella Lloyd
After finishing fourth in the 2025 standings, Lloyd returns to Rodin for another campaign. The British driver continues to receive backing from McLaren.
Ella Stevens
Runner-up in the British KZ2 karting championship, Stevens makes her single-seater debut this year. She is also a member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme.
MP Motorsport
Nina Gademan
After finishing sixth in last season’s championship, the Dutch driver switches teams to join MP Motorsport. She continues to be supported by Alpine F1 Team.
Alba Larsen
The Danish driver remains with MP Motorsport for her second season in F1 Academy. Supported by Scuderia Ferrari, Larsen will be one to watch after finishing seventh in 2025.
Esmee Kosterman
After a wild-card appearance at Zandvoort in 2025 with a great 7th place finish, Kosterman joins MP Motorsport for her first full season in the championship.
Campos Racing
Rafaela Ferreira
The Brazilian begins her second F1 Academy season after finishing 12th in the championship last year. Supported by Racing Bulls, she will be aiming to make significant progress.
Alisha Palmowski
One of the leading contenders for the 2026 title, Palmowski finished fifth in the championship last year. The British driver is supported by Red Bull Racing.
Megan Bruce
Bruce joins Campos after finishing 20th in the GB4 championship. She also participated in the Singapore round of F1 Academy as a replacement driver but did not score points.
ART Grand Prix
Lisa Billard
Billard joins ART after competing in French F4, where she finished first in the female standings. She also took part in the Singapore round as a wild-card and is supported by Gatorade.
Jade Jacquet
Supported by Williams Racing, Jacquet arrives in F1 Academy following a season in French F4, where she finished second in the female standings.
Kaylee Countryman
The American joins ART after finishing 16th in USF Juniors and competing in several USF2000 races. She will be supported by Haas F1 Team during the 2026 season.
Prema Racing
Mathilda Paatz
Paatz joins Prema after finishing eighth in the F4 Central European Zone Championship. She also participated in the Montreal round as a wild-card and is supported by Aston Martin F1 Team.
Payton Westcott
Westcott arrives after competing in Italian F4 and making a wild-card appearance in Las Vegas, where she scored her first points. She is supported by Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
Natalia Granada
A member of the Iron Dames programme, Granada joins Prema after taking part in the championship’s rookie tests.
Hitech Grand Prix
Rachel Robertson
Robertson finished 13th in the Saudi F4 championship before joining Hitech for her first full F1 Academy season. She previously competed during the Las Vegas round, where she scored points.
Ava Dobson
Dobson enters F1 Academy after a season in GB4, where she finished 19th overall and was the highest-placed female driver. She also appeared as a wild-card during the Miami round in 2025
Wild-Card Entry – Shanghai
Shi Wei
Shi Wei will participate as the wild-card entry for the opening round in Shanghai. The Chinese driver competed in two rounds of Chinese F4 in 2025 and also appeared as the wild-card during the Shanghai weekend last season.
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