Gatorade is set to join the F1 Academy grid in 2026 with French driver Lisa Billard behind the wheel. The iconic American sports drink brand enters the world of motorsport aiming to drive greater change and visibility for women in sport. Gatorade first appeared on the F1 Academy in 2025, announcing a multi-year partnership at the Canadian Grand Prix, where it backed German driver Mathilda Paatz as a wildcard entry. Billard later took over that role in Singapore, becoming the youngest wildcard entry in the series’ history.
The partnership will see Gatorade serve as an official partner of the series until 2030, with a clear shared objective: providing women with access to “industry-leading expertise”. But what truly distinguishes this partnership from others, and how is it setting a new benchmark for women in sports?
Inside Gatorade’s “Fuel Tomorrow” Initiative
In recent years, F1 Academy has welcomed a range of iconic brands to the paddock and grid, including Charlotte Tilbury, American Express, LEGO, PUMA and more. While the presence of these brands is significant in demonstrating support for women in motorsport, many partnerships have focused on visibility rather than directly supporting or improving athlete’s performance. In a physically demanding sport like motorsport, Gatorade’s partnership with F1 Academy is changing that.
By supporting the series, Gatorade takes a step and is helping to break down barriers in motorsport, in hopes of inspiring young women to reach their full potential. In 2026, as part of their “Fuel Tomorrow” initiative, F1 Academy drivers will be able to consult leading experts in the industry and gain valuable insights on their health and needs in order to reach their performance peak.
Speaking on the collaboration, Eric Melis, CMO of PepsiCo Latin America Beverages, explained: “We are setting a precedent for young female athlete support and showcasing how when athletes get the right resources at the right time, everything changes. This partnership exemplifies the Gatorade ‘Is It In You?’ philosophy: to spark performance by leverage our knowledge and understanding of the science of hydration.”
“By ensuring Lisa has access to science-backed resources and tailored performance support at this pivotal stage of her career, we’re empowering her to reach her potential and inspire the next generation.”
Numbers continue to show that inequalities continue to persist in sports
Gatorade highlights a significant gap in the support female athletes receive, particularly around hydration, nutrition and recovery. The study, which included elite groups of current and retired female athletes from the WNBA, Super League and Olympics, revealed that female athletes received male-centric advice and lacked access to expert guidance during the formative years of their careers.
Some key findings included:
While it was found that 58% of women understand their own physiological needs, only 38% believe female athletes receive equal attention, with just 28% of girls (aged 14-25) feeling confident in what they fuel their bodies with for performance.
Through Gatorade’s new F1 Academy partnership, Billard and the F1 Academy grid will benefit from hydration and nutrition guidance from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI). This will involve routine sweat tests to provide the French driver with tailored and individualised support to optimise her performance.
Speaking about the partnership, Billard said: “Single seater pushes your body to the limit. You can lose up to 4kg of fluid, burn huge amounts of calories, and race in extremely hot temperatures. So, working with a brand like Gatorade and GSSI to understand my hydration and recovery couldn’t be more important. I’m so excited to take on my first season of F1 ACADEMY in 2026, with the support of Gatorade behind me.”
This initiative marks an industry-first effort to ensure that female athletes receive the professional-level guidance they need and deserve early into their careers. As Gatorade and F1 Academy gears up for their first full-season, this partnership sets a new standard not only for women in motorsport, but all sports.
