F1 Academy has announced the return of its rookie test for 2026, expanding the initiative through the launch of a new rookie training camp organised in partnership with Loughborough University.
In total, 18 prospective F1 Academy drivers have been selected to take part in the training camp.
The first stage of the rookie training camp will take place at Loughborough University from 25-27 August. This will include in-depth physiological profiling, cognitive assessments and VALD performance screening. There will be workshops and seminars hosted by university specialists, as well as driver preparation.
"We are incredibly proud to welcome F1 Academy and its rookie drivers to Loughborough," Lou Gear, director of sport at Loughborough University, said. "This collaboration brings together two organisations with a shared belief in the power of talent, hard work, opportunity and world-class performance environments to unlock extraordinary potential.
"At Loughborough Sport, we have spent generations supporting athletes to pursue excellence on the world stage, and we see many shared values in F1 Academy's commitment to developing the next generation of female racing talent. Together, we are passionate about creating environments where ambitious young people can thrive, pursue excellence and fulfil their potential.
"We look forward to sharing our expertise, learning from one another and helping these exceptional drivers prepare for the demands of elite competition. Most importantly, this collaboration reflects our shared commitment to championing women in sport, creating more opportunities for talented female athletes to excel and inspiring the next generation to believe that there is no limit to what they can achieve."
The second part will be at the Circuito de Navarra in Spain from 9-11 September, where the drivers will be placed into an F1 Academy team environment. The participants will shadow engineering sessions, watch operational briefings and receive media training before getting out on track in F1 Academy machinery.
"The success of our inaugural Rookie Test in 2025 demonstrated both the depth of female racing talent coming through the pathway and the importance of providing opportunities for drivers to showcase their potential," said Katie Denver, performance and talent development manager at F1 Academy.
"For 2026, we're taking the programme a step further with the introduction of the Rookie Training Camp, delivered with Loughborough University. This gives us the opportunity to support drivers not only on track, but also through a science-backed approach to athlete development, helping them better understand their physical, cognitive, and behavioural performance.
"By combining world-class expertise, research, and on-track experience, we're creating an environment where drivers can accelerate their development and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed both on and off the track."
2026 F1 Academy rookie test drivers
- Milla Sjöstrand
- Kareen Kaur
- Ella Lähdemaa
- Autumn Fisher
- Kokoro Sato
- Victoria Farfus
- Sara Matsui
- Eva Dorrestijn
- Sofia Zanfari
- Ginevra Panzeri
- Zoe Florescu
- Luna Fluxa
- Carmen Kraav
- Alexia Danielsson
- Jordyn Deza-Martin
- Rosanne den Drijver
- Clara Stiebleichinger
- Yana Kapoor
