Formula 1 will start giving the F1 Academy series more support in 2024 after striking a new deal according to Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
The 2024 F1 Academy grid will include representatives from each of the ten Formula One teams, who will each nominate a female driver.
The female-only single-seater series F1 Academy debuted in 2023, recruiting some of the best drivers from the now-defunct W Series. However, the series received mixed reviews, with the absence of a live broadcast being a major bone of contention.
Marta Garcia is in the lead in the first season of the all-female junior series, running on F4 cars with only six races left on the calendar. The five drivers who are not allocated an F1 livery will race a new car with a different sponsor, whose name has not yet been released, starting in 2024.
All 10 Formula 1 teams will be able to nominate one driver for each of the 15 cars starting the next season, along with the inclusion of their livery. Drivers with other sporsors out of the F1 grid will occupy the five remaining cars.
Lena Buhler of ART and Abbi Pulling of Rodin Carlin, who are both sponsored by Alpine and Sauber this season, already have F1 liveries.
“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,” F1 Academy’s managing director Susie Wolff said.
“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.”
The next stage in developing a structure to promote bright female drivers up the ranks is to pair F1 Academy drivers with the current 10 teams in Formula 1, according to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
“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,” Domenicali said. “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.
“In 2024 the F1 Academy will join our race calendar, raising the awareness and profile of the series globally and to have the F1 liveries on the grid will be something very special.”
In 2024, the feeder series will also become a part of the F1 support package as previously announced. The only F1 racing weekend that includes the all-female series this season is the Austin season finale.
