F1 Teams Agree Landmark Deal to Continue F1 Academy Sponsorship
All 10 Formula 1 teams have committed to a multi-year deal to continue sponsoring an F1 Academy car and driver, significantly strengthening the all-female series. This landmark agreement, effective immediately, also includes new rules from 2027 allowing certain drivers to participate for a third season, enhancing talent development. Cadillac will join as a grid sponsor from 2027, further boosting the series' profile and ensuring a robust future for female motorsport talent.
All 10 Formula 1 teams have agreed to a multi-year deal to continue their sponsorship of an F1 Academy car and driver. This commitment, alongside new regulations allowing for extended participation, signals a robust future for the all-female series.
Why it matters:
This long-term commitment from every F1 team provides crucial stability and funding for the F1 Academy, solidifying its role as a vital pathway for female drivers into motorsport. It sends a powerful message about Formula 1's dedication to fostering a diverse talent pool and ensuring a clearer ladder for women to reach the highest echelons of racing.
The Details:
- Multi-year Extension: The agreement extends the current arrangement where each F1 team designates a driver and adapts their car with the team's livery, ensuring continuity for the series beyond 2024.
- Cadillac Joins: New 2026 F1 entrant Cadillac will become a grid sponsor for F1 Academy starting in 2027, further bolstering the series' commercial backing and prestige.
- Extended Participation Rule: The previous two-season limit for drivers in F1 Academy can now be extended to three seasons in specific cases from 2027 onwards.
- This exemption will be granted to drivers whose performance demonstrates strong potential for continued growth, allowing for more tailored talent development.
- F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff highlighted this change as a way to give standout drivers the necessary support and platform to fully realize their potential.
- Current Season: The 2025 F1 Academy season is heading to a dramatic title decider in Las Vegas, with Mercedes-sponsored Doriane Pin leading Ferrari-sponsored Maya Weug by nine points.
What's next:
The long-term support and the introduction of a more flexible participation rule underscore F1 Academy's evolving strategy to nurture talent. This framework aims to consistently feature the best female talent, providing them with enhanced opportunities for development and a clearer trajectory towards professional racing careers. The next step is to see how these structural changes translate into even stronger grids and more successful driver progressions in the coming seasons, cementing the F1 Academy's legacy.