StaffThe F1 Academy is an all-female driver series and has 15 drivers on the grid across five teams, with the likes of ART, Campos Racing, Carlin, MP Motorsport and PREMA Racing all fielding three cars each. The tournament aims to develop and grow the young, up-and-coming female drivers and get them ready for the highest level of motorsport.
The inaugural F1 Academy season is set to have seven events with three races each, which means a total of 21 races. The season will get underway on April 28 and conclude on October 22, 2023.
As the series gets their Testing season underway, in this article we take a look at the five teams and their drivers.
ART Grand Prix
Léna Bühler
Léna Bühler was the first-ever signing of the F1 Academy series. The Swiss racer has previously taken part in BMX, the Spanish Formula 4 Championship, the Formula Regional European Championship, and also races in the Formula 4 UAE Championship.
Carrie Schreiner
German motor-racer Carrie Schreiner was signed by ART Grand Prix for the inaugural F1 Academy season in February 2023. She has raced in the X30 Junior category and is the first female racer to win the ADAC Kart Masters. She has also taken part in the Italian GP Championship, the Nürburgring 24 Hours series, and the 24H Series.
Chloe Grant
ART Grand Prix rounded out their F1 Academy line-up with Chloe Grant, signing her in March 2023. Grant has won the ESKC Junior Championship, the CKRC and BWRDC Kart Sport Championships, and has also raced in the Junior Saloon Car Championship and the GB4 Championship. The 16-year-old British racer is also the youngest-ever driver to get the Motorsport UK Junior Racing Driver License.
Campos Racing
Nerea Martí
Nerea Martí was signed as Campos Racing’s first-ever driver for the inaugural F1 Academy season in February 2023. Martí, who has previously raced in the X30 Senior in 2019, F4 Spain and the W Series, will be partnering Lola Lovinfosse and Maite Cáceres.
Lola Lovinfosse
French racer Lola Lovinfosse was announced as Campos’ F1 Academy driver in late February 2023. Lovinfosse, who made her karting debut at the IAME Winter Cup 2018, has also raced in the Trofeo Andrea Margutti in 2019 and the F4 Spain Championship in 2021.
Maite Cáceres
19-year-old Uruguayan Maite Cáceres was announced as the final member of the Campos F1 Academy team in March 2023. Cáceres has previously raced in the Uruguayan Formula 4 Championship as well as the USF Junior.
Rodin Carlin
Jessica Edgar
Young British driver Jessica Edgar was one of the first couple of signings of the F1 Academy and was roped in by Rodin Carlin. She has so far raced in the GB4 Championship.
Abbi Pulling
Another British racer, Abbi Pulling was announced as Rodin Carlin’s second driver in February 2023. Pulling has previously competed in the Ginetta Junior Championship, the GT5 Challenge, the F4 British Champions, Formula Renault E and the W Series.
Megan Gilkes
Canadian racer Megan Gilkes completed Rodin Carlin’s F1 Academy roster after signing for them in February 2023. Gilkes has previously taken part in the Canadian Formula 1200 Championship, the GB4 Championship, and the W Series.
Gilkes has also worked as a trackside support engineer for the Aston Martin Formula One team.
MP Motorsport
Emely de Heus
Dutch racer Emely de Heus joined the MP Motorsports F1 Academy team in March 2023. De Heus has already raced for MP Motorsport in the Spanish Formula 4, the UAE Formula 4 Championship and the W Series.
Amna Al Qubaisi
Emirati racer Amna Al Qubaisi joined the MP Motorsport team in March 2023. The 22-year-old has already raced in the Italian F4, the Formula 4 UAE Championship, the Asian F3 Championship, the Formula Regional Asian Championship, and has also had a two-round appearance in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.
Hamda Al Qubaisi
Amna’s younger sister Hamda joins her sister and De Heus to round out the MP Motorsport F1 Academy roster. The 20-year-old has competed in the Italian F4, F4 UAE, and the Formula Regional Asian and European Championships.
Hamda is also the first-ever female racer to get on the podium of the Italian F4 Championship.
PREMA Racing
Bianca Bustamante
18-year-old Bianca Bustamante joined PREMA Racing for the debut F1 Academy season in February 2023. The Filipino racer has previously competed in the Formula 4 UAE Championship and the W Series as well.
Chloe Chong
British-Canadian motor-racer Chloe Chong joined PREMA Racing in March 2023. The 16-year-old made her karting debut at the Rotax Max Euro Trophy in 2013 and has raced in the 2023 IAME Ladies Cup and the 2022 X30 Junior Category British Championship as well.
Marta García
Spanish racer Marta García was announced as PREMA Racing’s final signing in March 2023. García has previously won the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy and the Trofeo delle Industrie. She has also raced in the Spanish F4 Championship and the W Series.
