F1A: Read the latest of F1 Academy reports, news, opinions, and more by Pit Debrief.
Campos Racing’s Alisha Palmowski found her rhythm in wet conditions, dominating the second and final day of F1 Academy’s in-season test at Silverstone. On the opening day, however, it was Ella Lloyd who set the pace, topping the timesheets with an early benchmark she laid down during the morning session. As grey skies and rain…
Ella Lloyd topped the morning session on Day 1 of the F1 Academy in-season test at Silverstone. The British driver went 2:01.568 in the first session and ended the afternoon session going third fastest. With Rodin Motorsport, Lloyd made several improvements throughout the opening day. After finding her footing quickly around the iconic track, the…
Aston Martin-backed Mathilda Paatz continues the 2026 F1 Academy season with high expectations, as the German driver targets top rookie honours this year and hopes to make the most of this opportunity. She entered the season as one of several drivers who had previously competed in the series as a wildcard entry. However, following an…
Ella Lloyd made an immediate statement on Day 1 of F1 Academy in-season testing at Silverstone Circuit, topping the morning session with a commanding lap of 2:01.568. The McLaren-backed driver looked comfortable from the outset. She edged out fellow Brit Alisha Palmowski by just 0.023 seconds, while Lisa Billard impressed with a top-three result on…
Abbi Pulling is back on the 2026 GB3 grid with Rodin Motorsport, and she is determined to make this season count. The 2024 F1 Academy Champion, who claimed nine victories and stood on the podium in all 14 races of her title-winning campaign, endured a difficult debut GB3 season in 2025. She finished 10th in…
Australian rising talent Joanne Ciconte has reflected on the impact of her 2025 F1 Academy season, highlighting how much she learned from those around her, the role her teammates played in her development, and the growth the series has experienced, inspiring young female drivers across the world. In an exclusive interview with Pit Debrief ahead…
Last week, Doriane Pin became the first woman to drive the Mercedes F1 car. The French driver is the reigning F1 Academy champion and a Development Driver for the Mercedes team. Speaking of her experience, Pin said: “It was the best day of my life.” Pin completed 76 laps around Silverstone On April 17th at…
Rachel Robertson’s first full F1 Academy season got underway at the 2026 Chinese GP as the Hitech driver showed strong pace in Shanghai before a retirement ended her Feature Race. Robertson joined Hitech for the 2026 season after a standout substitute appearance in Las Vegas, where she claimed P4 in Race 1 and Hitech’s best…
MP Motorsport Team Manager Wouter Blokhuis leaves the 2026 F1 Academy season opener in Shanghai with strong belief in the team’s potential. Fielding Alba Larsen, Nina Gademan and rookie Esmee Kosterman, both Larsen and Gademan showed clear promise, signaling that strong results could come in the near future as the season continues to unfold. Most…
Doriane Pin makes history in a private test at Silverstone, becoming the first female to ever drive a Mercedes F1 car. Having impressed in endurance racing, Pin joined forces with Mercedes in 2024 as she began her first F1 Academy season. The French driver won the opening race of the campaign in Jeddah with a…
