Formula 1’s women-only championship, F1 Academy, will be hosting all seven of its 2024 rounds at F1 races this season. The first round will take place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. This is a significant step for the fledgling championship, as it ran only one event on the F1 support bill in its inaugural season last year. Each of the 10 F1 teams will support one driver who will race in their team’s livery in the Formula 4-level series. The remaining drivers will be sponsored by a series partner or run in series branding. Additionally, for the first time, F1 superlicence points will be awarded, with the 2024 champion receiving 10 points, a quarter of the points required to qualify for an F1 superlicence.
As we approach the season opener, there are nine key things to watch this year. One standout is Doriane Pin, who is the clear favorite for the title in 2024, despite not having raced in F1 Academy yet. Pin has already made a name for herself in the world of sportscar racing, particularly in the World Endurance Championship. Now, she is set to make her mark in single-seaters alongside her continued participation in WEC. Pin’s impressive performances in Formula 4 last year, including a race win and three podium finishes, demonstrate her potential for success in F1 Academy.
Pin’s teammate at Prema, Maya Weug, is expected to be her closest competitor this season. Weug became the first female member of Ferrari’s driver academy in 2021 and has already shown promise in mixed-gender F4, scoring points on multiple occasions. Despite her previous experience in Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), Weug has returned to F1 Academy for the 2024 season. This move positions her as one of the title favorites and provides her with an opportunity to secure funding and potentially race in FRECA again.
Red Bull is backing three drivers in F1 Academy this year, making them the team with the most drivers in the series. The three drivers, Hamda and Amna Al Qubaisi, and Emely de Heus, all achieved race wins in the inaugural season. Hamda Al Qubaisi, in particular, stands out as the highest-placed second-year driver after finishing third in 2023. The Al Qubaisi sisters have extensive experience in F4, as does de Heus, who competed in Spanish F4 and F1 Academy last year. While having multiple drivers does not guarantee success, Red Bull’s talented trio makes it likely that one of their drivers will achieve victory in 2024.
Another driver to watch is Abbi Pulling, who had high expectations placed on her in the previous F1 Academy season but did not mount the title challenge many anticipated. Pulling had a successful career in British F4 and W Series, consistently finishing on the podium. However, she has yet to secure a win in single-seaters. Pulling has been working with a performance coach to improve her focus and manage the pressure she places on herself. With a return to British F4 and a proven track record, Pulling is determined to achieve success in 2024.
Bianca Bustamante, the first female McLaren F1 junior, is another driver with the potential to be a title contender this year. Bustamante won races last season but lacked the consistency of her championship-winning teammate, Marta Garcia. With the support of McLaren and ART Grand Prix, Bustamante aims to deliver a strong performance in her final season in F1 Academy before moving on to other opportunities.
In addition to the high-profile rookies like Pin and Weug, several other rookies could surprise this season. Ferrari has Aurelia Nobels in the series, and while she struggled in F4 UAE, she is a Ferrari-backed driver racing in the colors of series partner Puma. Tina Hausmann, backed by Aston Martin, will be racing alongside Pin and Weug at Prema. However, she faces a challenging task to match her more experienced teammates. Another exciting rookie is Lia Block, the youngest driver ever to win a major American rally championship. Block will be racing as a Williams junior and will focus on scoring points rather than podium finishes. Chloe Chambers, a Haas F1 junior, has already shown promise in other series and is expected to perform better than her previous W Series campaign.
A wildcard entry has been introduced for the 2024 season, allowing F1 Academy and Prema to support a one-off entry for a local driver in each round. For the Saudi Arabian GP, Reema Juffali, a Saudi racer with experience in British F4, GB3, and GT World Challenge Europe, has been confirmed as the wildcard entry. The series has yet to announce wildcards for the other rounds in Miami, Barcelona, Zandvoort, Singapore, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
The progress of the first-ever F1 Academy champion, Marta Garcia, will be closely watched as she steps up to FRECA with Prema. Garcia’s career has had its ups and downs, but she demonstrated her dominance in F1 Academy last year with seven wins. Her experience in W Series will be invaluable as she joins FRECA as one of the best-prepared rookies, alongside last year’s runner-up, Lena Buhler, who will be racing with ART GP.
F1 Academy has made significant strides since its inception, and this season it will have live timing and TV broadcasts of its races, similar to Formula 2 and Formula 3. The weekends have been condensed to two races instead of three to accommodate F1’s busy schedule. This change allows the series to have a greater spotlight alongside F1, providing exposure to the drivers and teams. However, managing the increased attention will be crucial for the drivers and series.
Ultimately, F1 Academy has the opportunity to prove its worth and showcase the potential of future stars. The success of Garcia and Buhler in FRECA will be used to gauge the quality of the series, but they are just the first champions in a long line of F1 Academy graduates. The series has grown and now has a larger platform to demonstrate its value. With the support of F1 teams and series, F1 Academy can continue to nurture and develop young talent.