Jade Jacquet has endured a challenging but educational start to her rookie F1 Academy campaign during the 2026 season. After the opening three rounds and seven races, the Williams-supported ART Grand Prix driver sits 19th in the Drivers’ Standings without a point. Her two 12th-place finishes in Montreal remain her strongest results.
Jacquet entered the season with limited single-seater experience. She only started racing internationally in karting in 2023 before completing her first full French F4 campaign two years later. During that season, she achieved 12 top-20 finishes, recorded a best result of 11th at Le Mans and won the Female Trophy at Dijon-Prenois.
A promising start ends in disappointment
Jacquet began her F1 Academy career at the Shanghai International Circuit in 2026. After finishing practice in 16th, the French driver found more than a second during qualifying and secured 13th on the grid.
She maintained her position through the opening stages of the Reverse Grid Race before a Safety Car brought the field together. Jacquet passed Alba Larsen shortly after the restart, although she soon lost the position again. She remained close to the midfield battle and finished 13th, just seven seconds behind the podium places.
Jacquet produced a strong opening lap in the Feature Race and climbed as high as 11th. However, she dropped back as several drivers fought for position around her. Her weekend ended prematurely when she locked up under braking at the Turn 14 hairpin and collided with Esmee Kosterman. Both drivers retired, while the stewards handed Jacquet a five-place grid penalty for the following round.
Greater consistency at 2026 F1 Academy Round in Montreal for Jacquet
Jacquet faced another unfamiliar circuit when F1 Academy travelled to Montreal. The weekend also featured the first three-race format of the season, giving her more opportunities to gain experience at the demanding Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
The Williams driver recorded the 13th and 15th-fastest qualifying classifications for the two grid-setting results. She then completed all three races and achieved finishes of 12th, 12th and 13th. A post-race penalty for Rachel Robertson promoted Jacquet to 12th in the Opening Race. She finished in the same position during the Reverse Grid Race, despite receiving a penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
Jacquet came closest to scoring her first points in the Feature Race. She crossed the line in 11th after battling with Robertson and Kosterman, but the stewards ruled that she had gained an advantage by leaving the circuit at Turn 13. A five-second penalty dropped her to 13th in the final classification.
Although Montreal did not produce a points finish, Jacquet showed greater consistency than she had in Shanghai. She completed every race and remained close to the top-10 places, but penalties once again prevented her from maximising the weekend.
Silverstone recovery offers encouragement
Silverstone proved difficult from the opening session. Jacquet finished 18th in both practice and qualifying as she struggled to find confidence around the circuit’s high-speed corners. Her Reverse Grid Race became even harder when she stalled at the start alongside Kosterman. Jacquet eventually got moving, but the time she lost left her unable to rejoin the main field. She finished the race in 18th.
The Feature Race produced a more encouraging performance. Starting from the back of the grid, Jacquet gradually progressed through the order and gained five positions to finish 13th. The result matched her Shanghai finish and demonstrated an improvement in her race pace and ability to recover from a difficult starting position.
The search for Jacquet’s first F1 Academy points in 2026 continues
Jacquet has yet to contribute to ART Grand Prix’s 29-point total, with the French team sitting sixth in the Teams’ Standings. Qualifying pace remains one of her main areas for improvement, as starting closer to the top 10 would reduce the amount of ground she needs to recover during the short races.
She must also avoid the incidents and penalties that have affected her results in Shanghai and Montreal. However, her recovery drive at Silverstone and consistent finishes in Canada show that she has started to make progress during her first season at this level.
Zandvoort, Austin and Las Vegas remain on the 2026 calendar, with another seven races available across the final three rounds. Jacquet’s immediate target will be breaking into the top 10 and securing her first F1 Academy points. With more experience and cleaner execution, the Williams junior can turn the lessons from the opening half of the season into stronger results.
