- Silverstone to make F1 Academy debut as COTA returns for first time since 2022
- 2026 season will again comprise 14 rounds across seven races, along with a 12-day testing programme
F1 Academy has announced its 2026 schedule which sees Las Vegas retained as the season finale after a successful debut this year.
Las Vegas proved to be a commercial success for the all-female series in 2025 as Hello Kitty chose to activate its first-ever motorsport partnership across the weekend. Jill Koch, senior vice president for brand management and marketing at Sanrio, told BlackBook Motorsport that she was “excited to see what’s next” for future collaborations.
Elsewhere, F1 Academy is going to visit Silverstone Circuit and the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) next season as events in Miami and Singapore drop off the schedule. It will be F1 Academy’s first race at Silverstone, but the series held its 2022 season finale at COTA in Austin.
Overall, the series will again comprise 14 rounds across seven races, and the season will feature a comprehensive 12-day testing programme to its drivers.
“In just three seasons, F1 Academy has developed some fantastic drivers and grown a huge and passionate fanbase all over the world,” said Stefano Domenicali, president and chief executive of Formula One.
“It inspires women and girls to consider a role in motorsport, be that on or off the track, by removing barriers and showing what can be done. I would like to thank Susie Wolff and her team for their drive and vision in creating such an outstanding series, and congratulate 2025 champion, Doriane Pin, for her incredible achievement.
“I’m also grateful to our race promoters for their enthusiasm and commitment to making F1 Academy a key fixture at their Grand Prix weekends. We’ve also seen fantastic growth in grassroots participation, which is vital for the future of the sport. Next season is set to be another brilliant year, and I can’t wait to see how the 2026 grid performs.”
Susie Wolff, managing director of F1 Academy, said: “Our 2026 F1 Academy calendar reflects the momentum we’re building and the visibility we’re earning across the sport.
“Silverstone and Austin are two fantastic additions to our 2026 roster, and returning to five established races gives us our strongest calendar yet, closing once again in Las Vegas where we aim to finish the season with the same style and flair we delivered this year.”
Underlining the continued commercial success of the F1 Academy championship, ExxonMobil has extended its commitment to Red Bull Racing’s entry in the series. The multi-year deal will see the company seek to empower young women to pursue careers in motorsport and STEM-related fields.
“We’re delighted that one of our long-standing partners, Mobil lubricants, are continuing on their journey with us and will keep supporting Alisha and the Red Bull Racing Academy Programme,” said Julia George, director of partnerships at Oracle Red Bull Racing.
“F1 Academy has seen incredible growth since its inception in 2023, and now with the continued backing of the Formula One grid and partners like Mobil, we’re excited for what the future holds for women in motorsport.”
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