LIA BLOCK Champions Fearless Racing & Female Trailblazing in F1 Academy Return

April 9, 2025

by Emily Selleck // from www.motorsport.com

• LIA BLOCK is proving that cross-discipline racing experience creates better drivers, not just well-rounded resumes. The 2023 American Rally Champion and first female Nitrocross competitor brings a unique perspective to F1 Academy, crediting her fearless Rallycross background with sharpening her mental game for precise single-seater racing. She’s learned to adapt that ‘fast-paced thinking’ from jumping electric cars to the surgical precision required in wheel-to-wheel open-wheel competition.
• The 18-year-old isn’t just collecting firsts for the sake of headlines – she’s strategically building skills that matter. As the first female driver on Rockstar Energy’s elite roster, BLOCK understands the responsibility of being in the spotlight but focuses on her craft first. Her approach to the engineering challenges of single-seaters shows maturity beyond her years, acknowledging the steep learning curve from Rallycross’s simpler setups to F1 Academy’s data-heavy development process.
• BLOCK’s training regimen reveals the thoughtful preparation required for female drivers to compete at the highest levels. Working with Williams, she’s developed specialized programs that account for physiological differences, particularly focusing on upper body strength and areas where women face unique challenges building muscle mass. Her willingness to scale back extreme sports like snowboarding shows the calculated risks successful female drivers must navigate to protect their racing careers.

all-female f1 academy, nitrocross, rallycross, williams racing