LISA BILLARD, 16, Races F1 Academy While Learning To Drive On Roads

August 9, 2026

• LISA BILLARD became F1 Academy’s youngest Wild Card driver at 15 in Singapore, balancing Formula 4 competition at 155mph while learning manual transmission on public roads at regulation speeds.
• The Normandy native started karting at seven as the only girl, facing aggressive male competitors who refused to let her lead, developing resilience that carried her to international competition.
• BILLARD targets Formula 1 status as “one of the best drivers in the world,” not just as a female participant, leveraging F1 Academy’s all-women development platform for girls 16-25.
• Physical preparation includes rock climbing and Gatorade-monitored hydration protocols to combat cockpit temps reaching 60°C and four-liter fluid loss during race weekends.

all-female f1 academy, brazilian formula 4, formula 1