Formula 1 is launching a brand new all-female driver collection referred to as F1 Academy. Set to debut in 2023, the primary purpose of the collection – which is able to sit beneath F3 within the single-seater rung – is to develop and practice younger feminine drivers to progress to larger ranges of racing.

We sum up all the small print which were revealed up to now.

• 5 groups, 15 drivers
• 7 rounds, together with one throughout and F1 weekend
• Same chassis as F4

F1 Academy calendar, groups

A complete of 5 groups will compete within the collection, with three drivers every (making it a complete of 15 drivers). The groups might be run by skilled present F2 and F3 groups.

The inaugural season in 2023 can have a complete of seven rounds with three races per spherical. While the calendar might be revealed later, organisers have confirmed that it’s going to probably be a part of one F1 race weekend. There may even be 15 days of official testing.

Acknowledging that discovering sufficient price range for racing has been a problem for feminine drivers, F1 will contribute €1,50,000 per car (€2.25m in complete). Drivers might be required to match that quantity, which F1 says represents “a fraction of the usual costs in a comparable series” whereas groups will present the remainder of the price range.

F1 Academy cars

Like many different entry-level collection, F1 Academy may even use standardised chassis. The car used might be a Tatuus T421 chassis, which is utilized in a number of worldwide F4 championships. It might be powered by a turbocharged Autotecnica engine delivering 165hp.

Pirelli will provide the 13-inch tyres for the cars.

Where does F1 Academy match within the F1 feeder ladder?

The announcement of the F1 Academy comes within the wake of the W Series being compelled to cancel its remaining three rounds in 2022 attributable to points with fundraising. However, F1 Academy gained’t substitute W Series, however will as an alternative act as a feeder collection for a similar.

It might be a platform for younger racers in karting or different junior collection to assemble some expertise earlier than making the step as much as Formula 3 and even the W Series. “During assessments of the barriers young female drivers face with entering the F1 pyramid, it became clear that they do not have the same amount of experience as their male counterparts at the same age. The goal is to fill this gap and offer them access to more track time, racing and testing,” an official assertion says.

“They will also grow by working with professional teams, who are renowned in motorsport for nurturing young drivers, and who will help them develop the crucial technical, physical and mental preparations.”

The F1 Academy might be managed by Bruno Michel, who’s the CEO of Formula
Motorsport Limited that oversees F2 and F3. “Diversity is extraordinarily vital in motorsport, and with the F1 Academy we are going to show that feminine drivers have what it takes to compete at excessive ranges. I’m completely satisfied that if younger ladies are given the identical quantity of expertise as some other driver, they’ll efficiently make their manner by the pyramid. Our objective is to see feminine drivers on the F3 grid within the subsequent two to a few years, and for them to rapidly problem for factors and podiums,” he stated.

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