Natalia Granada joins the F1 Academy with Prema and Sephora for the 2026 season

The young Spanish driver Natalia Granada takes another step in her career by joining the 2026 grid of F1 Academy. Born in 2008, she is about to discover the car for the first time after several seasons spent in karting and a first experience in motorsport. The driver, who celebrated her birthday on March 8th, started karting at the age of 11 alongside her twin brother. Quickly becoming competitive in Spanish national competitions, she then continued her progression in several international championships. Her journey has notably led her to participate in the Spanish Championship, the IAME European Championship, and the IAME World Final.

A new Iron Dames driver in the F1 Academy

In 2022, the Spanish rider joined the Iron Dames development program. Dorian PinThe reigning F1 Academy champion, Jacqueline Dion, is part of this program, as is Lisa Billard, the French driver who will also be competing in her first full season in the women's category. The main objective of Iron Dames is to support young female talent at various levels of competition to facilitate their progression towards international racing series. For the first time, two drivers from this program will therefore be present simultaneously on the F1 Academy grid.

French driver Lisa Billard will compete in the 2026 season with ART Grand Prix, sponsored by Gatorade. The 16-year-old had already made a name for herself in the 2025 French Formula 4 Championship before making her F1 Academy debut with a wildcard appearance in Singapore. Her qualifying performance, finishing fifth, attracted attention – the best result ever for a wildcard entry in qualifying. Unfortunately, she was unable to replicate that performance in the races. She was forced to retire from the first of the two races after a collision with Alba Larsen, while mechanical problems in the second race saw her finish sixteenth.

A new partnership for the F1 Academy

Her arrival is also part of a groundbreaking partnership between the F1 Academy and Sephora. The beauty retailer becomes an official partner of the championship and directly supports the Spanish driver in her debut season. The Prema-entered car will therefore sport a livery inspired by the brand's visual identity, with its signature black and white stripes and red accents. This partnership is part of a broader strategy to increase the championship's visibility and support young female drivers. Present in over thirty markets worldwide, Sephora aims to use this collaboration to reach new audiences by promoting diversity and self-confidence, values ​​championed by the sport.

The simultaneous presence of Natalia Granada and Lisa Billard marks a new milestone for Iron Dames, which continues to develop a comprehensive pathway to support female drivers on their journey to international single-seater categories. The 2026 F1 Academy season kicks off from March 13th to 15th at the Shanghai International Circuit, as a support race for the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix. For Natalia Granada, this first weekend marks the beginning of a new chapter in her career, with the goal of quickly adapting to the demands of single-seater racing and continuing her progression to the highest level of junior formulas.

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