F1 Academy Calendar 2025

F1 Academy is a female-only racing championship created by Formula One to develop and prepare drivers for progression to higher levels of motorsport competition. Launched in 2023, the series provides a structured pathway for talented female racers aged 16-25, who can compete for a maximum of two seasons. The 2026 season features 18 drivers across six teams competing in 14 races at seven rounds, all supporting the FIA Formula One World Championship. As a spec series with identical equipment, F1 Academy creates a level playing field where driver skill and racecraft determine the results.

The championship awards points across multiple race formats. In the Opening Race and Feature Race, the top 10 finishers receive points from 25 for the winner down to 1 for tenth place, following the same structure as Formula 1. The Reverse Grid Race awards points to the top eight drivers, with 10 points for the winner down to 1 for eighth. Two bonus points go to the driver securing pole position for the Feature Race, while one additional point is awarded for fastest lap in all three races, provided the driver finishes within the top eight in the Reverse Grid Race or top 10 in the Opening and Feature Races. Drivers can score a maximum of 65 points across a three-race weekend or 39 points at a two-race weekend, with teams able to accumulate up to 145 and 86 points respectively.

Race weekends span three days aligned with Formula 1 Grand Prix events. Each weekend begins with up to two Free Practice sessions of 40 minutes each, followed by a single 30-minute Qualifying session that determines the starting grids for all races. Each race is capped at 30 minutes. Most rounds feature two races: a Reverse Grid Race where the top eight qualifiers start in reverse order, and a Feature Race with the grid set by qualifying times. Following the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, select rounds at Montreal and Austin now include a third Opening Race, where the grid is determined by each driver's second-fastest qualifying lap, adding strategic depth to the qualifying session.

All competitors use identical Tatuus T421-F1A chassis built to FIA 2021 safety standards, featuring a carbon monocoque with modified front and rear wings, steel Halo protection, and wheel tether cables. Each car is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder Autotecnica engine producing 174 bhp, capable of reaching 240 km/h and accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. The cars feature a six-gear Sadev gearbox with paddle shifters, and Pirelli supplies 13-inch tyres for all competitors. There are no mandatory pit stops during races, with stops only occurring for damage repair or weather-related tyre changes.

The 2026 grid includes six teams: Prema Racing, Campos Racing, MP Motorsport, Rodin Motorsport, ART Grand Prix, and Hitech. All ten Formula 1 teams support a driver who carries their team's branding, plus an additional McLaren Oxagon entry, with remaining drivers backed by official partners. Each round also features one Wild Card driver entry. The championship awards FIA Super License points to top finishers, supporting drivers' progression to higher racing categories.

The 2026 calendar spans three continents, beginning in March at Shanghai International Circuit and visiting Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Canada, Silverstone Circuit for its debut appearance at the British venue, Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands (the only track to feature in all four seasons of F1 Academy), Circuit of the Americas in Texas, and Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Both the Montreal and Austin rounds feature three races each to maintain the 14-race season following the Jeddah round cancellation. Competing at Formula 1 weekends provides drivers with visibility and professional development opportunities while gaining experience in a competitive international championship environment.