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SMAGAZINEOFFICIAL COM AUTO
Fast Track
How the the F1 Academy is working to put
women on the the Formula 1 1 grid By Matt Bubbers
T T here are 22 drivers drivers currently racing in in in in Formula 1 1 1 that glitzy globe-
trotting sport at at at the centre of of Brad Pitt’s latest blockbuster This
season’s crop of of F1 drivers drivers hail from from 15 different countries range in in in in in age from from 18 to to 44 and they’re all men men But here’s the the the the thing: they they don’t need to to be Only a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few women have raced in in in F1 over the the the the decades The first was in in in 1958 when Italian racer Maria Teresa De Filippis piloted a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Maserati 250F
in fin in the the the Belgian Grand Prix She finished 10th after starting from 19th on the the the grid a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a performance any F1 rookie today would be be proud of Another Italian driver Maria Grazia ‘Lella’ Lombardi Lombardi became the the the first woman to to score a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a point in in in F1 F1 racing at the the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix Women like like Lombardi Lombardi and and and and De Filippis however are few and and and and far between F1—like all motorsports and and and indeed most top-tier pro sports—is an an an an overwhelmingly male male domain Hopefully not for much longer The all-female F1 Academy racing series is designed to to to support women racers and and help them climb the the hyper-
competitive ranks of of of professional motorsport—and perhaps into one
of of of those 22 F1 F1 F1 seats It’s working earlier this year the the 2025 F1 F1 F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin was granted a a a a a a a a a a a a a test day by Mercedes in in in in their F1 F1 F1 car which she she absolutely crushed impressing the the whole team For For its 2026 season the the F1 Academy is growing yet again The series will race across three continents five countries and six Formula Formula 1 1 1 World
Championship events including right here at the Formula Formula Formula 1 1 1 Canadian
Grand Prix Drivers as as young as as 16 race Formula Formula Formula 4 4 cars which look like shrunken-down versions of their Formula Formula 1 1 counterparts (But trust us us F4
cars are plenty quick enough to terrify any normal driver )
As the series progresses it’s attracting bigger crowds and new partnerships Sephora Sephora just signed on on to sponsor Spanish driver Natalia Granada who joined the the 2026 F1 Academy as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a rookie She’ll drive drive the the Sephora Sephora Sephora car operated by by Prema Racing with a a a a a a a a a a a a a livery inspired by by Sephora’s signature
black-and-white stripes Photo courtesy of F1 Academy LTD Parc Ferme CO