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Lisa Billard is a 16-year-old French racing driver who made history as the first female to win a race in the French Junior Karting Championship and is carving her path toward single-seater stardom with backing from Iron Dames and a newly secured Gatorade partnership for the 2026 F1 Academy season.

EARLY YEARS

Born September 12, 2009, in Seine-Maritime, Normandy, Lisa Billard grew up in the heart of northern France’s karting scene. Her father, David Billard, introduced her to motorsports at age seven, setting her on a path that would eventually intersect with Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon—literally. “Esteban Ocon and I started out with the same people in the same place,” she later recalled, a connection that planted early seeds of ambition in the young Norman racer. David wasn’t just a supportive dad; he was hands-on, entering her in competitions and serving as her team in the 2022 RMC International Trophy Junior Max category.

Lisa’s first taste of national competition came in 2018, when she finished 22nd in the National Series Karting in France. She was nine years old. By 2019, competing in the Coupe de France Minime, she’d already cracked the podium with a third-place finish, beating out future competitors Pacôme Weisenburger and Arthur Dorison. It was clear early on that this kid from Normandy wasn’t here to make up the numbers.

Her selection for the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars programme after the 2023 season—one of only eight girls chosen—validated what those who’d been watching already knew: Lisa Billard was the real deal.

OTHER INTERESTS

Details about Lisa’s life outside the cockpit remain largely private. At 16, her focus appears squarely fixed on racing, with no public record of academic honors, hobbies, or extracurricular pursuits making headlines. Whether she’s into gaming, reading, or has a secret talent for something entirely unrelated to motorsports is anyone’s guess—she’s keeping that part of her world to herself.

EARLY SUCCESS

Lisa’s breakthrough came in March 2022, when she became the first female to win a race in the French Junior Karting Championship. She was 12 years old. Describing that first-round victory, she said: “On Thursday it started well… Then on Friday, it rained and I was third and on Saturday it was a bit harder… And in the final, I started second and I managed to come back first. So for the championship, I’m eight points ahead for the moment.” The win wasn’t just historic—it was dominant, a statement that reverberated through French karting.

She finished fifth overall in that 2022 championship, then returned in 2023 to claim third in the French Junior Karting Championship, just seven points off the leader. That same year, she earned her maiden international podium at the FIA Academy Trophy in Cremona and finished seventh representing France at the Academy Trophy. She also placed third in the Championnat de France, rounding out a season that positioned her as one of France’s brightest young talents.

The next step was single-seaters. Lisa joined the FFSA Academy for nine races in the 2024 French F4 Championship. Results were modest—no wins, no podiums, and officially “not classified”—but she scored her first championship points with a ninth-place finish at Spa-Francorchamps. It was a start.

In 2025, competing in a full French F4 season, she became the Women’s Champion at Le Mans and currently leads the French F4 Female Trophy with 12 races under her belt. While she sits 19th overall with two points, her resilience in difficult conditions has drawn praise. At Nogaro, she recovered from early trouble to finish 17th—the top female finisher—and briefly held second place in wet conditions before a red flag reset the race.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2019: 3rd place, Coupe de France Minime, defeating Pacôme Weisenburger and Arthur Dorison.
• 2022: First female race winner in French Junior Karting Championship history; 5th overall in championship.
• 2023: 3rd place, French Junior Karting Championship, finishing seven points from the leader.
• 2023: Maiden international podium, FIA Academy Trophy, Cremona.
• 2023: 7th place representing France at Academy Trophy.
• 2023: Selected for FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars programme (one of eight girls).
• 2024: Scored maiden French F4 Championship points with 9th place at Spa-Francorchamps.
• 2025: Women’s Champion, French F4 Championship at Le Mans.
• 2025: Leads French F4 Female Trophy standings.
• 2025: First Wild Card driver to qualify in the top eight at F1 Academy (5th, Singapore Round 6, October 1).
• 2025: 2nd fastest overall at F1 Academy Rookie Test, just 0.092 seconds off the fastest time.

INSPIRATIONS

Esteban Ocon looms large in Lisa’s story—not just as a fellow Frenchman who made it to Formula 1, but as someone who literally started where she did. Sharing the same early karting environment gave her a tangible connection to what’s possible. “Esteban Ocon and I started out with the same people in the same place,” she’s said, a reminder that even the most unlikely dreams have a roadmap.

But if Ocon is the aspirational figure, Cathy Muller is the practical one. The FIA Girls on Track mentor played a pivotal role in shaping Lisa’s trajectory, offering guidance on goal-setting and facilitating training opportunities in England. “She mentored me a lot, giving me advice on my goals,” Lisa explained. “It was also thanks to her that I went to England to perfect my skills.” That combination of role model and mentor—one who shows the destination, the other who helps chart the course—has been instrumental in her rise.

David Billard, her father, rounds out the trio. He’s been there from day one, not just cheering from the sidelines but actively involved, entering her in competitions and proudly tracking every milestone. His support has given Lisa the foundation to chase a dream that demands relentless commitment.

REPUTATION

Lisa Billard’s reputation is built on grit and history-making performances. Described as “one to watch” by motorsport media, she’s earned praise for “raw talent and resilience,” particularly in challenging conditions. At Nogaro in 2025, she “lit up the track” with a recovery drive that showcased her ability to fight through adversity. Her qualifying performance in Singapore—fifth on the grid as the first F1 Academy Wild Card to crack the top eight—cemented her status as a driver with serious potential.

Unfortunately, that Singapore debut ended prematurely when a collision with Alba Larsen forced her retirement. It was a frustrating end to what had been a breakthrough weekend, but it didn’t diminish the buzz around her. She’s backed by Iron Dames, supported by the French Federation of Automobile Sport, and competing in a historic moment for French F4—part of a six-female grid, the most ever in the championship.

Billard isn’t just racing; she’s opening doors. Her pioneering achievements—first female race winner in French Junior Karting, first Wild Card in the F1 Academy top eight, Women’s Champion in French F4—position her as a trailblazer in a sport still working to level the playing field.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Lisa Billard’s immediate future is set: she’s joining F1 Academy full-time in 2026 with backing from Gatorade, competing under the Hitech TGR banner. The partnership, announced following her standout Wild Card performance in Singapore, marks a major step up in both profile and resources. F1 Academy is designed as a direct pathway to higher levels of single-seater racing, and Lisa’s selection signals confidence in her potential to climb the ladder.

What she does with that opportunity remains to be seen, but if her track record is any indication, she’ll make noise. At 16, she’s already rewritten the history books more than once. The next chapter—whether it leads to Formula 3, Formula 2, or beyond—will be written with the world watching.

References:

Wikipedia: Lisa Billard
F1 Academy Official Site: Lisa Billard Profile
DriverDB: Lisa Billard Statistics
Dive-Bomb: Lisa Billard Feature
Racers Behind the Helmet: 2025 French F4 Nogaro Race Report
Females in Motorsport: 2022 Interview with Lisa Billard
Formula1.com: Lisa Billard 2026 F1 Academy Announcement