Picture Credit: Formula 1
Formula One is set to introduce an all-women F1 Academy series which will kick off in 2023. F1 has now confirmed the team line-up for the inaugural season with five veteran teams in junior categories having confirmed their entries for next year. These are ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, Carlin, MP Motorsport and PREMA Racing fielding three cars each to fill out the 15-car grid. Each team has been established in junior racing including the Formula 2 and Formula 3 Championship.
Now for the 2023 season, the teams will add the all-women driver category to their motorsport setup from next year. Talking about the achievements of each team on the junior level, MP Motorsport won the F2 Constructor’s and Drivers’ Championship with Felipe Drugovich in 2022.
ART Grand Prix with Victor Martins in the driver’s seat won the F3 Drivers’ Championship this season while PREMA Racing won their third F3 Teams’ title in 2022. The Carlin team has been key in the development of Logan Sargeant, who will now take the 2023 Williams Formula 1 seat. While Campos Racing secured their Spanish F4 title in 2022.
The main objective of the F1 Academy will be guiding young women drivers in the junior ranks and aiding them in progressing to the higher levels of single-seater racing such as W Series, F3, F2 and F1. The series has subsidised the costs of each car with a €150,000 contribution for each driver while the teams will cover the rest of the budget.
President and CEO of Formula 1 Stefano Domenicali was extremely excited about this new venture and spoke about the importance of supporting female drivers' progress in the F1 hierarchy. He said: “It is exciting to be able to announce the five teams that will be racing in the F1 Academy for next year and who will be providing this fantastic opportunity to the young and talented women to begin their journey into competitive motorsport.
“We believe it is important that everyone has the chance to follow their ambitions and get the support and guidance needed to progress and excel. The F1 Academy is an important part of our plan to increase diversity and representation in motorsport and we are looking forward to the first season in 2023 stay tuned for more news in this area.”
