In its quest for future talent, the F1 Academy supports the “Champions of the Future” program

While a large part of the plateau of the F1 Academy is preparing to change for the 2026 season, the fourth round of "Champions of the Future" was held this weekend on the Slovakia Ring in the center of karting from Slovakia.

The Champions of the Future series is a karting program compliant with FIA sporting standards, designed to increase the participation and inclusion of women in the discipline while attempting to uncover the next generation of talent. The project is aligned with the principles of the young, all-female category, the F1 Academy. The Champions of the Future program offers elite competitions and comprehensive driver training, with three categories: Mini 60, OK-N Junior, and OK-N Senior.

Since its inaugural season in 2023, the F1 Academy has been attracting more and more motorsport enthusiasts, both spectators and drivers. However, the women's category imposes a two-year limit on consecutive participation for drivers, which results in significant turnover. The "Champions of the Future" program should therefore allow the F1 Academy to identify its future talents and see their potential in action.

F1 Academy continues to focus on the future

« With the growing enthusiasm around the F1 Academy, we must continue to strengthen the pool of talent joining our sport, Susie pointed out Wolff, general manager of the category. We are delighted to be collaborating with Champions of the Future, which will create a clear pathway from karting to the F1 Academy.”

The fastest drivers in the senior category will benefit from the media exposure and experience offered by an F1 Academy test. “We will also offer the best drivers in the senior category an F1 Academy test, giving them the opportunity to prove themselves to our teams, said the wife of Toto Wolff, director of the team Mercedes Benz. Champions of the Future shares the F1 Academy's vision of increasing female participation, creating opportunities and enabling clear progression through the motorsport hierarchy. »

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In this fourth round, Brazilian Victoria Farfus (third) and Finnish Ella Häkkinen (second), daughter of Formula 1 champion Mikka Häkkinen, secured their first podium finishes of the season in Sunday's finals in the junior and senior categories respectively. Swiss Chiara Bättig took third place in Saturday's senior final.

That's a wrap on Round 4 of Champions of the Future Academy Program in Slovakia. ✅

🥉 Victoria Farfus secured her first podium of the season in Sunday's Junior final, finishing out the race in P3.

🥈 Ella Hakkinen also scored her first podium of the season with a P2 finish in… pic.twitter.com/rBhLrQ3fmV

— F1 Academy (@f1academy) September 22, 2025

A few days after the Rookie Test organized on the Navarre circuit in Spain, the desire of the category seems to be to move up in the medium, or even long term, within the pyramid of the car. Indeed, offering better visibility to drivers coming from karting, or even a first season of F4 for the most experienced, this series could indeed continue with the aim of giving a foothold in budding careers. The next and penultimate round will take place from November 24 to 26 in Al Ain (United Arab Emirates).

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