Lisa Billard and Jade Jacquet: why you should keep an eye on them in 2026?

Lisa Billard, the appetite of a champion

The first female driver in the French F4 championship in 2025, Lisa Billard is preparing to start her second season in carRising to the challenge of F1 Academy, the Normandy native does not hide her title ambitions, although learning remains the watchword for this new year.

« She definitely deserves to be in the running for the title. ", these are the words spoken by Dorian Pin, 2025 champion in the 100% female category and guest on L'Émission AUTOhebdo last December, with regard to her younger sister. Certainly 19^e Despite her performance in the F4 France general classification last year, Lisa Billard still managed to score two points, repeatedly flirting with a particularly tight Top 10, even achieving two 9s.^es places, synonymous with the best result.

Keen to progress, particularly in terms of race aggression and when negotiating starts, the future ART Grand Prix driver supported by Gatorade made a strong impression in Singapore in 2025. A wildcard entry for the F1 Academy on one of the most challenging tracks on the calendar, Lisa Billard qualified fifth, thus becoming the absolute benchmark for a wildcard entry in the history of the championship.

« I would like to be able to win the title in the first yearshe confirmed to our microphone. I know it's not easy, I have to stay objective. The primary goal will be to gain as much experience as possible. I'd like to be the best rookie, get as many podium finishes as I can, and prepare myself as best as possible for the following year if I don't win the title. ».

Although no F1 team has chosen to sponsor her in this early stage of her journey, there is no doubt that the French flag will be expected to be at the forefront of the F1 Academy, despite Doriane Pin's departure for other horizons.

Jade Jacquet, taking giant strides

Alongside Lisa Billard, another Frenchwoman will be treading the F1 Academy paddocks starting next year. The second-place female driver in F4 France, and close to joining Iron Dames, Jade Jacquet arrives with a completely different, but no less promising, background. While the former started the karting from the age of 7 to follow a path made of detections and progression, her adventure partner can boast of having arrived there after the others.

Although she only started karting in 2023, Jade Jacquet quickly rose through the ranks. Spotted by the FFSA to participate in the French Karting Championship in 2024, then in F4 from 2025, the driver from northern France has already achieved five Top 15 finishes in her first season in single-seaters, her third season behind the wheel across all categories.

After successful tests in an F4 car alongside ART Grand Prix, notably at Spa, the Frenchwoman was also chosen to participate in the 2026 F1 Academy season. Teaming up with Lisa Billard in the garage, Jade Jacquet will proudly sport a "W" on her uniform, a symbol of support from Williams after Lia Block's departure.

Although for her, the F4 adventure internationally sounds like a new XXL challenge in her very young career, her progression curve combined with the confidence shown by an F1 academy suggests some good surprises at the heart of a grid on which Alba Larsen, Alisha Palmowski, or even Ella Lloyd could benefit from the experience acquired in 2025.

ALSO READ > Doriane Pin gives Lisa Billard her advice for succeeding in F1 Academy: "Focus on yourself"