Jade Jacquet penalized on the next F1 Academy grid in Montreal

For Jade Jacquet, this first weekend of F1 Academy in Shanghai, on the sidelines of the Chinese Grand Prix, brought its share of new features. Supported by WilliamsThe French driver, who graduated from the latest F4 France class in 2025, notably received a visit from James Vowles before taking to the track. The Grove-based team principal met with his driver, who is replacing Lia Block in the British squad.

Thirteenth in qualifying, thirteenth in the first of the two weekend races, Jade Jacquet delivered focused sessions, considering she only started motorsport in 2023, driving a kartingHowever, things got complicated in Race 2. Eleventh around the halfway point, the driver from northern France seemed to be gaining confidence aboard her carJade Jacquet came close to scoring her first point in the category. Positioned on the outside in preparation for Turn 14, at the end of the long final straight, she braked too late, colliding with the rear of Esmee Kosterman's car in front of her. Rightly deemed at fault, the French driver will receive a five-place grid penalty for the next F1 Academy race, as stipulated by the championship – meaning she will start Race 1 in Montreal.

Similarly, Rachel Robertson will also receive a five-place grid penalty for the next race. By causing the local wildcard driver, Shi Wei, to go off the track, the British driver misjudged the consequences of her own mistake on the previous lap. Accumulating dust on her tires after misjudging the racing line, Robertson took her Chinese counterpart with her, thus justifying the penalty.

If these two decisions were to apply to the Saudi Arabian round in Jeddah, the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix forces the F1 Academy to adjust its calendar. Six rounds will therefore take place in total this year, the next one scheduled for May 22-24 in Montreal, Canada.

ALSO READ > F1 Academy 2026 – Championship standings after the Shanghai round