Bühler, F1 Academy Driver.Photo credit: F1 Academy via Twitter.
Announcements of agreed television deals, backing from all 10 F1 teams and alignment with the F1 calendar are set to strengthen F1 Academy as the all-female junior series enters its second season.
Previously, the only way to follow the series was through live timing or highlights. A docuseries with Hello Sunshine was later confirmed but fans were still left unable to watch live. The new television deal is set to change that with managing director Susie Wolff confirming all future races will be shown live.
The deal comes into effect for the 2023 series finale at the Circuit of the Americas. This will also be the first of the series to take place as a support race in an F1 weekend. From 2024, this will be the norm for F1 Academy, with all races to take place on an F1 weekend as previously announced by F1 CEO Stefano Domencali. The calendar alignment is part of F1’s commitment to promote and grow the series.
Next season each of the 10 F1 teams will also nominate a driver for the F1 Academy who will represent the team, sporting the team’s livery on their car. There is not known to be a requirement for this driver to be in the team’s junior set up. As it stands, 5 of the 10 teams have at least one female driver within their academies, though not all these drivers will be an option for next year with drivers remaining in karting or other series. The move therefore opens up opportunities for drivers not currently associated with an F1 team. 5 non-F1 affiliated drivers will complete the grid.
F1 Academy’s first series concludes with a final weekend on 21st-22nd October. Marta Garcia will be hoping her 48 point lead will be enough to secure the title with Lena Buhler and Hamda Al Qubaisi still in contention.
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