ROBERTSON, KOSTERMAN, and LARSEN Chase F1 Dreams Through Academy Series

March 14, 2026

• British teen RACHEL ROBERTSON, 18, battles gender bias in karting where boys dismissed her presence until she consistently beat them across the finish line, fueling her F1 ambitions.
• Dutch driver ESMEE KOSTERMAN, 20, overcame “not for girls” taunts after switching from watching her brother race to competing herself at age six, now fighting to defend her seat.
• Denmark’s ALBA LARSEN, 17, secured coveted Ferrari-sponsored seat in her second F1 Academy season after discovering motorsport passion during 2020 lockdown through go-karting, transitioning from handball.
• Academy provides crucial institutional support—funding, training, track time—historically available only to men, with 14-race season offering champions fully-funded advancement but maximum two-year window creates intense pressure.
• Previous champions DORIANE PIN (Mercedes development driver), MARTA GARCÍA, and ABBI PULLING continue progressing through motorsport ranks, validating Academy’s pathway despite critics questioning car speeds and segregated format.

all-female f1 academy, autodromo enzo e dino ferrari, formula 1, single-seater racing