All 10 teams on the current Formula 1 grid will have drivers and liveries in the all-female F1 Academy series in 2024.
The news, announced by Formula 1 today, further strengthens the ties between the all-female support category and the world’s leading single-seater sport.
Currently in its first season, F1 Academy features 15 drivers, racing in teams of three, representing popular outfits seen in the likes of Formula 2 and 3.
The five teams on this year’s grid comprise ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, MP Motorsport, PREMA Racing and Rodin Carlin.
The changes for 2024 mean that 10 of the current 15 drivers will be representing a team in F1 and will race in a car bearing that team’s brand identity for the season.
At this moment in time, the drivers set to race under an F1 team banner are unknown, as are the outfits that will represent the remaining five drivers on the grid.
F1 Academy has largely been kept separate from F1 in its inaugural season, with just the upcoming season finale in Austin, Texas featuring on a Grand Prix weekend.
However, next year’s calendar will see the support series align with the F1 calendar on a regular basis and today’s news of teams strengthening their ties with the series points toward greater synergy between the two championships.
In a statement released on the Formula 1 website Managing Director of F1 Academy Susie Wolff had this to say on the series’ new development;
“First and foremost, I want to thank the Formula 1 teams for their support and vision as we embark on this journey together,” Wolff said.
“This landmark moment not only demonstrates the depth of support for F1 Academy from across the F1 community but will inspire a whole generation of young girls to realise the opportunities both on and off track in motorsport.
“As we join the F1 calendar for next year and host F1 Academy Discover Your Drive events in the lead up to our races, I am confident that we will have a positive impact across our sport in the long term.”
President and CEO of F1, Stefano Domenicalli, had this to add;
“We created F1 Academy to bring about real and lasting change to ensure young female talent have the right system in place to follow and achieve their dreams.
“Today is a very important moment as it shows the impact the project is having and the support it is receiving from across the F1 community.
“Susie, the teams, and everyone involved are working tirelessly to ensure we go from strength to strength and continue to deliver on the important objective we have set out together.”
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