F1 Academy raises the stakes for female hopefuls

The unquestionably justified ambition to encourage and promote more women into top-line motor sport remains a hot topic, and at times a contentious one. But is the emergence of a true successor to mid-1970s Formula 1 half-point scorer Lella Lombardi edging closer to reality?

The powers behind F1 Academy would argue so. Segregating female racers into single-sex categories remains divisive, more so in the wake of the demise of W Series. But the latest initiative, which completed its inaugural season in 2023 and is owned by F1’s promoter, looks set to gain greater traction in 2024.

Making F1 Academy a grand prix support series was an obvious step. Next year all of its seven rounds will take place at grands prix, see box, opposite, while each of the 10 F1 teams will now be represented with one car in full livery driven by a contracted junior. The latest to be confirmed is 17-year-old Lia Block, inset, below, daughter of the late Ken Block, who has been signed by Williams and will race for ART GP, alongside McLaren’s Bianca Bustamante. Block has a steep learning curve in her first single-seater season, having cut her teeth in the footsteps of her father in rallying, rallycross and most recently in Extreme E.

Another key development is the prize for winning F1 Academy. W Series put up a hefty cash incentive, but the new series offers a direct path to the next level. Inaugural F1 Academy champion Marta Garcia has been rewarded with a fully funded drive in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine with Prema Racing – the same team that carried her to the title. Unlike W Series, F1 Academy does not offer free entries, but for 2024 the series has reduced the driver contribution to budgets from £130,000 to £87,000.

Elsewhere, Michelle Gatting, Sarah Bovy and Rahel Frey became the first all-female racing crew to claim a class win in the World Endurance Championship, taking the honours in GTE Am at the Bahrain Eight Hours season finale driving their Iron Dames Porsche 911 RSR-19. Another landmark, then. But women still face a hard road before it can be claimed they stand on an equal footing with men in motor sport.

2024 F1 Academy calendar

Mar 7-9 Saudi Arabia GP

May 3-5Miami GP

Jun 21-23 Spanish GP

Aug 23-25 Dutch GP

Sep 20-22 Singapore GP

Nov 29-Dec 1 Qatar GP

Dec 6-8 Abu Dhabi GP