LISA BILLARD & JADE JACQUET Lead ART’s All-Rookie F1 Academy 2026 Charge

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February 23, 2026

GRRL! SUMMARY:

LISA BILLARD’s impressive trajectory continues as the 16-year-old French driver brings serious momentum to ART Grand Prix after becoming the first female to win a French Junior Karting Championship race in 2022. Her standout F1 Academy rookie test performance, where she clocked the second-fastest time overall, translated into making history as the first Wild Card entry to qualify in the top eight when she secured P5 in Singapore. With Iron Dames backing and Alpine F1 Team experience since 2023, plus her 2025 French F4 Female Trophy title, Billard’s got the credentials to shake up the rookie field.
ART Grand Prix is rolling the dice with an all-rookie lineup, betting that fresh talent can recapture their 2023 magic when they guided Léna Bühler to Vice-Champion status. JADE JACQUET and KAYLEE COUNTRYMAN round out the trio, with Jacquet showing steady progress from her French F4 debut season that included 11 top-20 finishes and Williams F1 backing. Meanwhile, Countryman represents American hopes after transitioning from karting success to USF series competition, though her international single-seater experience remains limited compared to her European teammates.
Hitech’s second season strategy centers on RACHEL ROBERTSON and AVA DOBSON, two drivers who’ve already proven they can deliver under pressure. Robertson made an immediate impact by scoring Hitech’s best 2025 finish with P4 in her debut Las Vegas race, backing up her Radical Cup UK success and F4 Saudi Arabian campaign. Dobson brings valuable F1 Academy Wild Card experience from Miami plus a breakthrough 2025 GB4 season that culminated in her first podium and Top Female Driver award, giving Hitech the experienced rookie talent they desperately needed after struggling to consistent points in their inaugural season.