LISA BILLARD Makes History as Youngest F1 Academy Wild Card at Singapore

October 2, 2025

by Lydia Mee // from www.motorsport.com

• LISA BILLARD is breaking barriers at 16 as F1 Academy’s youngest-ever wild card driver in Singapore, backed by Gatorade and fellow French driver Esteban Ocon. The pair share karting roots in Normandy, where they both trained under coach Didier Blot – proving that good grassroots programs create lasting networks that lift everyone up.
• BILLARD’s resume speaks for itself: first female to win a French Junior Karting Championship race in 2022, fifth overall that same year, and now part of Alpine’s Rac(H)er development program alongside 2024 F1 Academy champion ABBI PULLING. She’s not just getting token opportunities – she’s earning them through results and using Alpine’s resources for everything from sports training to crucial media preparation.
• What’s refreshing here is seeing the motorsports ecosystem actually working as it should – experienced drivers like Ocon championing rising talent, manufacturers like Alpine investing in proper development programs, and series like F1 Academy creating meaningful pathways. BILLARD gets the spotlight she’s earned, while F1 Academy gets to showcase exactly why their platform matters for the next generation.

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