Pit Debrief

Motorsport news

Pit Debrief

Motorsport news

Category: F1 Academy

F1A: Read the latest of F1 Academy reports, news, opinions, and more by Pit Debrief.

Countryman 2026 F1 Academy
Photo Credit: Haas F1 Team

Exclusive: Countryman reflects on rookie lessons, Haas support and progress in 2026 F1 Academy season

Antonina Jaromin07 mins

Kaylee Countryman‘s 2026 F1 Academy rookie season has brought both promising performances and setbacks, with the 16-year-old targeting greater consistency in the final rounds. The American stepped up to the all-female championship after quickly progressing through North American karting and single-seaters. Countryman first tested F1 Academy machinery during 2025 in-season testing in Navarra, where she…

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Mercedes-backed Payton Westcott during the 2026 F1 Academy season.
Photo Credit: Mercedes F1 Team

Exclusive: “You always have to be working towards your goal” — Westcott reflects on her journey to F1 Academy and lessons learnt along the way

Yi Xing Lim08 mins

For F1 Academy rookie Payton Westcott, her journey into motorsport began with a shared family passion for racing, which saw her get behind the wheel of a kart for the first time at six years old. Since then, Westcott has worked her way up through the ranks to the F1 Academy grid, where she is…

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Jordyn Martin reflects on her rookie GB4 season after finishing as the top female driver and securing a €50,000 F1 Academy contribution.
Photo Credit: GB4 Championship | Jakob Ebrey

Martin “really proud” after securing 2026 GB4 top female honours in rookie season

Karishma Persad06 mins

Fortec Motorsports’ Jordyn Martin has described herself as “really proud” after completing her first full season in cars as the highest-scoring female driver of the 2026 GB4 Championship. The 16-year-old American ended her rookie campaign 27 points clear of her closest female rival, securing the €50,000 MotorSport Vision career contribution available towards a potential 2027…

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Esmee Kosterman sponsored by LEGO for F1 Academy
Photo Credit: F1 Academy

Kosterman walks away from 2026 F1 Academy Dutch GP with plenty of “positives” after scoring first points of the season

Mira Recalde04 mins

The Dutch GP would always be a bittersweet one for any Dutch racing driver, especially considering this was the last year a F1 and Feeder Series weekend would take place at Zandvoort for the near future. However for Esmee Kosterman, this weekend was indeed a special one as the Dutch driver was able to secure…

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Granada 2026 F1 Academy in-season testing Navarra
Photo Credit: F1 Academy

Granada eyes race pace gains after topping first day of 2026 F1 Academy in-season testing at Navarra

Antonina Jaromin03 mins

Natalia Granada remains focused on improving race pace despite topping the opening day of F1 Academy’s 2026 in-season test at Circuito de Navarra. The PREMA Racing driver entered the test with renewed motivation after bouncing back from a DNF to claim her third top-four finish of the season in Zandvoort’s Feature Race. Granada kicked off…

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Danielsson will make her F1 ACADEMY debut as a Wild Card at COTA during the 2026 United States Grand Prix with TeamViewer
Photo Credit: F1 Academy

Alexia Danielsson set for F1 ACADEMY debut as Austin Wild Card

Chiara Schulte genannt Hobein05 mins

Swede Alexia Danielsson will make her F1 Academy debut at the United States Grand Prix after being confirmed as the Wild Card entry for the fifth round of the 2026 season in Austin representing F1 Academy Official Partner TeamViewer. The 17-year-old Swede will drive the #45 car operated by Hitech at the Circuit of the…

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Rachel Robertson reflected on her seventh-place finish at the 2026 F1 Academy Dutch GP, extending her points scoring streak to four races while admitting she still has racecraft to develop.
Photo Credit: F1 Academy

Robertson embraces “learning and experience” after extending points streak at 2026 F1 Academy Dutch GP

Valeria Penachi04 mins

Rachel Robertson finished seventh in the Feature Race at the F1 Academy Dutch GP at Zandvoort, extending her points-scoring streak to four consecutive rounds. She now heads into Round 5 at the Circuit of the Americas on a run of form that began at Silverstone. Robertson on racing at the 2026 F1 Academy Dutch GP…

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18 young drivers took on the second edition of the F1 Academy Rookie Test in Navarra.
Photo Credit: F1 Academy | X

Farfus’ morning benchmark remains unbeaten in 2026 F1 Academy Rookie Test at Navarra

Mira Recalde03 mins

The 2026 season marks the second running of the F1 Academy Rookie Test at Navarra, with 18 young hopefuls taking to the track to showcase their talent and potential behind the wheel. After a productive day of testing at Navarra, Brazil’s Victoria Farfus topped the morning and overall timesheets. The Brazilian driver’s 1:46.988 ultimately proved…

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Sephora-backed Natalia Granada tops the timings on the first day of the 2026 F1 Academy In-season test at Navarra.
Photo Credit: F1 Academy

Granada tops timings on first day of 2026 F1 Academy in-season testing at Navarra

Yi Xing Lim03 mins

On the opening day of the 2026 F1 Academy in-season test at Navarra, Sephora-backed Natalia Granada topped the timesheets with a 1:46.906, going fastest of all and edging Emma Felbermayr by 0.187s. Granada logged her fastest time in the afternoon session. However, Alba Larsen led the way in the morning to pip Felbermayr by just…

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