Who will succeed Doriane Pin in the F1 Academy?

In this context of renewal in F1 Academy, three names clearly emerge as favorites: Ella Lloyd, Alisha Palmowski and Nina Gademan. Already firmly established in the category, Ella Lloyd enters 2026 with a clear status: that of the driver to beat. In 2025, the Welsh driver established herself as one of the strongest faces on the grid, finishing fourth in the championship and as the top rookie. Victorious in the first race in Jeddah and regularly scoring points, she particularly impressed with her consistency across all race weekends.

Her ability to perform well in both qualifying and races allowed her to rack up valuable points, including in more challenging rounds like Canada, where she achieved three second-place finishes in three races. Always supported by McLaren With her contract renewed at Rodin Motorsport, Ella Lloyd benefits from a stable environment, a major advantage in a championship where the gaps remain tight. If she can more consistently convert her good starting positions into victories, she could quickly take the lead in the standings.

Another natural contender, Alisha Palmowski, arrives with a slightly different profile. In 2025, the British actress, supported by Red Bull Racing She distinguished herself with her pure speed. She secured a victory in the first race of the season in China and four other podium finishes during the season, proving particularly incisive in the battles within the pack. 

Alisha Palmowski also capitalized on the unique format of the F1 Academy, particularly the reverse grids at the start of the season, where her controlled aggression often made the difference. Her challenge for 2026 will be to further improve her consistency. Less consistent than Ella Lloyd over the course of the season, she finished fifth in the championship, 18 points behind the McLaren driver. Disqualified in Las Vegas and forced to retire in Singapore in 2025, she nevertheless possesses the raw potential to string together victories if she can avoid costly mistakes.

Gademan and Billard lying in wait?

At MP Motorsport, Nina Gademan is considered the third major favorite. The Dutchwoman, supported by AlpineShe took a significant step forward last season, after impressing as a wildcard entry in 2024. She also secured a victory in 2025, on home soil, and particularly distinguished herself by her ability to climb through the field and maximize her opportunities when they arose. Winner of Race 1 (governed by the reverse grid rule), the Dutchwoman will need to win the main race to take the next step.

Her performances in the second half of the season confirmed her upward trajectory. More comfortable with tire management and race strategy, Nina Gademan seems to have reached a level of maturity that could prove crucial in 2026. If she further improves her qualifying performance, she will have everything she needs to challenge for the title.

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Behind this trio, France will have two representatives to watch: Lisa Billard, who will ride for Gatorade, and Jade Jacquet, who is now being followed by... WilliamsThey will meet at ART Grand Prix. For both drivers, it will be about discovering the category and gaining experience, with the primary objective of accumulating points. However, Lisa Billard seems destined to fight for the top spots, as evidenced by her fifth-place qualifying result during her wildcard appearance in Singapore this weekend. She will, however, need to improve her starts, in particular, to progress, while Jade Jacquet will primarily be aiming for points-scoring races.