Part of the 18 female drivers at the F1 Academy Rookie Test, Lisa Billard left the Circuito de Navarra satisfied with her progress. The 16-year-old driver took part in F1 Academy’s first-ever rookie test, which took place alongside the official in-season testing.
Billard is currently competing in her first full season of French F4. The series uses a different chassis and engine from F1 Academy. While her time around Navarra was short, the Iron Dames-backed driver gave it her all.
Learning the ins and outs of F1 Academy
Throughout all six hours of the F1 Academy Rookie test around the Spanish circuit, Billard was never far off the top spot in the timesheets. In the morning session, Lisa Billard set a great lap of 1:47.013, just 0.092s off Ella Stevens in the top spot.
Even if the afternoon session left her only in P4, the 16-year-old was confident that this opportunity would be a pivotal step in her motorsport journey:
“This morning I needed to adapt myself to the car and to a different team with a different engineer. It was cool to learn a new car. P2 this morning was a good result, and then P4 this afternoon. For sure (this test) will help me for the future. And it’s a good opportunity to make a step in my career.”
Adapting to the Tatuus T-421-F1A car
While her results spoke for themselves, Lisa Billard hoped to push her car to the limits during the F1 Academy Rookie Test. This event is perfect for the F1 Academy teams, who are always looking for new talents to sign.
Nevertheless, the 16-year-old confessed to the biggest disadvantage she faced — learning to drive a completely different car. And Billard had to do it quickly in order to attract the attention of teams and sponsors. As well as proving that she has what it takes for a permanent spot.
“The most challenging thing was to adapt myself to the car,” admitted Billard. “It had more oversteer in the high-speed corners and more understeer in the other corners. I had to adapt with the car because I drive in French F4 and it’s a bigger car. So it’s very different.”
At the end of the F1 Academy Rookie Test, Lisa Billard was asked whether she got all the pace there was out of the car. In turn, she replied: “Yeah, in Turns 5 and 6 because I was always pushing myself to the limit and pushed too much.”
