The 2026 season marks the second running of the F1 Academy Rookie Test at Navarra, with 18 young hopefuls taking to the track to showcase their talent and potential behind the wheel. After a productive day of testing at Navarra, Brazil’s Victoria Farfus topped the morning and overall timesheets. The Brazilian driver’s 1:46.988 ultimately proved unbeatable as the field completed a combined 1,447 laps. However, the afternoon session saw Alexia Danielsson lead the way with a 1:47.259. Here’s what went down at the second edition of the F1 Academy Rookie Test in Navarra.
Morning session
Zoe Florescu was the first to explore the Navarra circuit, followed by Ella Lähdemaa and Danielsson. Within the first ten minutes, Japan’s Kokoro Sato set the fastest time of the session with a 1:49.322 and improved by just under a tenth on her next attempt.
Over the next 20 minutes, Zanfari was the first to break into the 1:48s. Autumn Fisher quickly followed, setting a 1:48.549. After a short break, the flying laps continued. Zanfari and Sato interchanged for the lead, with Zanfari ultimately taking the top position with a 1:48.334.
Later in the session, Danielsson was the first to break into the 1:47s. Luna Fluxa Cross followed with a 1:47.662. Towards the end of the second hour, Farfus found more pace and set a 1:46.988. Zanfari followed three tenths behind after going faster than Cross.
A red flag was briefly brought out five minutes before the session ended after Lähdemaa stopped at Turn 2. Farfus’ time remained unbeaten, with Zanfari retaining second and Den Drijver in third with a 1:47.471.
At the end of the morning session, the top 10 were covered by just over eight tenths. Rounding out the top ten were Sato, Florescu, Cross, Jordyn Martin, Lähdemaa, Ginevra Panzeri and Danielsson.
Afternoon session
Once again, Florescu was the first car on track. In the opening ten minutes, she and Danielsson were the first to set quick times. Danielsson posted a 1:47.939. Sato then followed with a 1:47.744, which remained the fastest time for the next hour and a half. Danielsson responded with a 1:47.259, putting the Swede at the top of the timesheets.
The field continued to improve throughout the session. Zanfari and Lähdemaa both had spins but were able to continue without further incident. One final interruption halted the session five minutes before the end, with Kareen Kaur stopping on track.
Danielsson retained the fastest time following the red flag, having opened up a 0.282s advantage over Lähdemaa, while Farfus took third just 0.006 seconds behind. However, rounding out the top ten in the afternoon session were Sato, Sara Matsui, Cross, Florescu, Den Drijver, Panzeri and Clara Stiebleichinger.
A platform for future opportunities
The inaugural F1 Academy Rookie Test last year proved to be a valuable platform for young female drivers hoping to secure a full-time seat in the series. The initiative has already demonstrated its impact, with several participants from last year’s test, including Ella Stevens, Lisa Billard, Payton Westcott and Jade Jacquet, going on to join the grid full-time in 2026.
With F1 Academy on track for the penultimate round of the 2026 season, the grid returns to the Circuit of the Americas for the first time since 2023 as the championship enters its final stretch.
