F1 Academy have announced a brand new partnership with Loughborough University which will see a Rookie Training Camp launched alongside the return of the Rookie Test for 2026.
The Announcement
Together, the Rookie Training Camp and Rookie Test will identify, develop and support arising talent from a global pool of candidates.
The partnership between F1 Academy and Loughborough University will see a programme that supplies the next generation of drivers with the necessary knowledge and skills that will allow them to develop both on and off track. Additionally, there will be a scientific element that provides important insights into the development of female athletes, performance progression and transitional challenges which aims to further the understanding across motorsport as a whole.
The selection of 18 drivers who are eligible to compete in F1 Academy in the future will participate in the Rookie Training Camp at Loughborough University from August 25-27 before the on-track Rookie Test will take place at Circuito de Navarra from September 9-11.
Rookie Training Camp and Rookie Test
During the Training Camp, drivers will be participating in a range of assessments. These assessments include physiological profiling, cognitive testing and VALD performance screening which will measure several physical attributes.
Additionally, Loughborough University experts will lead seminars and interactive workshops which will cover topics such as resilience and behaviours that underpin success in sport.
The Rookie Test will see a simulation of an F1 Academy team environment, including driver briefings and engineering sessions as well as insight into the demands of high levels of junior single-seater racing.
Drivers will also partake in media briefings and assessments which will aid them in the off-track responsibilities of professional racing drivers. The Rookie Test competitors will be testing F1 Academy cars, a vital part of their development.
Rookie Test Participants
Alexia Danielsson
Danielsson is a Swedish driver currently competing in F4 CEZ (Central European Zone). She is 16-years-old and is More Than Equal’s Development Driver.
Rosanne den Drijver
Dutch driver Drijver currently competes in Nordic 4. She moved into single-seater racing in April 2026.
Jordyn Deza-Martin
Deza-Martin is an American driver who currently competes in karting.
Eva Dorrestijn
15-year-old Dorrestijn currently races in karting in the IAME Series. She has previously taken part in the FIA Girls on Track initiative, making it to the final in 2023.
Victoria Farfus
Farfus is a 14-year-old driver who currently competes in Ginetta Junior. Previously, the Brazilian raced in the F1 Academy ‘Discover Your Drive’ initiative and made history as the first female driver to finish in the top five of an FIA karting race.
Autumn Fisher
Fisher is a Canadian driver currently competing in French F4. She was the F1 Academy Wildcard in Montréal and was backed by Standard Chartered.
Zoe Florescu
Romanian racing driver Florescu made her F1 Academy debut as the Zandvoort Wildcard. This season, she is racing full-time in Spanish F4.
Luna Fluxá
Fluxá is a Spanish driver and a member of Mercedes F1’s Junior Programme. Currently, she races in Spanish F4 with Campos Racing.
Yana Kapoor
Kapoor is an American racer who competed in Formula Pro USA Championships, an F4 level series.
Kareen Kaur
Kaur is the first Singaporean to be selected for F1 Academy’s Rookie Test. She is currently racing in F4 Southeast Asia.
Carmen Kraav
Estonian driver Kraav has tested F4 cars on multiple occasions as well as participating in the NLS series.
Ella Lähdemaa
17-year-old Lähdemaa has raced in karting as well as trialling several cars, such as the Kyojo Cup cars and F4 cars.
Sara Matsui
Williams F1-backed Matsui is a Japanese driver currently competing in the Kyojo Cup. She was also a FIA Girls On Track Rising Stars finalist in 2022.
Ginevra Panzeri
Italian driver Panzeri is currently racing in the French F4 Championship. She is set to make guest appearances in Italian F4, F4 CEZ and the E4 Championship.
Kokoro Sato
Currently competing in the Kyojo Cup, Japanese driver Sato had an impressive karting career. The 18-year-old also made her endurance debut, racing in the Dubai 24 Hours at the beginning of 2026.
Milla Sjöstrand
Swedish driver Sjöstrand currently races in Nordic 4. In 2020, 2021 and 2023 she was selected for the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars initiative.
Clara Stiebleichinger
Austrian racer Stiebleichinger is currently racing in French F4 and will be representing Audi F1 at the Rookie Test. She made her motorsport debut in 2024.
Sofia Zanfari
Moroccan driver Zanfari currently races in French F4. She raced in karts for 10 years before making the transition into single-seaters.