F1 launches new women's series, F1 Academy

La Formula 1 announced the creation of a new championship this Friday, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi GP, the final round of the 2022 Formula 1 season. This new series called F1 Academy will be entirely reserved for female drivers. However, it will not aim to replace the W Series, despite the financial difficulties of the latter. “Formula 1 is proud to announce the launch of the F1 Academy, a dedicated category for female drivers which aims to develop and prepare young female drivers for higher levels of competition, including the W Series, the Formula 3, Formula 2 and Formula 1 », also indicates the press release.

The grid will be made up of 15 single-seaters divided into five teams, all managed by current Formula 2 and Formula 3 teams. The inaugural season will include seven events of three races each, as well as fifteen days of official testing. The 2023 calendar will be revealed at a later date and is expected to include a joint weekend with Formula 1. 

The cars used will be Tatuus T421s. The turbo engine, supplied by Autotecnica, will have a power of 165 horsepower. Pirelli will take care of the tires. The series will be managed by Bruno Michel, CEO of Formula Motorsport Limited. Formula 1 will subsidize each entry with a budget of 150 euros, for a total amount of 000 million euros. Drivers will have to provide the same amount per car. The teams will provide the rest of the budget. 

“Everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their dreams, to realize their full potential and Formula 1 wants to ensure that we do everything we can to create greater diversity and pathways to this incredible sport, explains Stefano Domenicali, President of Formula 1. That's why I'm delighted to announce the creation of the F1 Academy, which will give young female drivers the best chance to realize their ambitions through a comprehensive program that supports their racing careers and gives them everything they need to progress to F3 and hopefully F2, and then to the top of Formula 1. The more opportunities the better, and this program is designed to provide another path to success for drivers. »

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