F1 Academy completes FIRST EVER session in Barcelona

F1 Academy

F1 Academy completes FIRST EVER session in Barcelona

F1 Academy's maiden season is underway after the 15 drivers took part in pre-season testing in Barcelona

Harry Smith

Saturday 15 April 2023 15:57

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The first-ever session of F1 Academy was completed in Spain earlier this week, with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya playing host to the championship's pre-season test.

F1 Academy was created by F1 management in a bid to in order to create a pathway for women to progress through the ranks and, ultimately, into the top-tier category.

Racing in F4-equivalent machinery, F1 Academy's aim is to help young female drivers progress onto the Formula 3 grid, on which Sophia Flörsch is currently the only non-male driver.

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Now that the first-ever F1 Academy session has been completed in Barcelona, excitement turns to the first of seven race weekends

Jamie Chadwick will not be making the step over from W Series to F1 Academy

A progressive series

April's two-day F1 Academy test allowed the 15 drivers to get accustomed to their machinery for the first time.

Two F1-backed drivers will take part in the maiden season of F1 Academy with Alpine prodigy Abbi Pulling and Sauber Academy junior Lena Buhler both on the grid.

Three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick won't be on the grid as she pursues a place in IndyCar via the Indy NXT series.

Another driver to watch out for is Chloe Chong. The 16-year-old is making her first foray into open-wheel racing having graduated from karting and represents the exact kind of driver F1 Academy has been introduced to help.