F1 Academy expands its grid from the 2025 season.
More grid slots for 2025 F1 Academy season
F1 Academy announced today during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend that Hitech Grand Prix will join the championship in 2025.
Hitech will operate three cars, increasing the grid to 18 vehicles. The championship originally housed 15 drivers and their cars.
🚨BREAKING: The F1 Academy grid expands to 18 cars from 2025 with Hitech Grand Prix joining as the sixth team.
The expansion of the grid in our third season reflects the series’ rapid growth since it was founded in 2022 and the increasing talent pool of young female drivers.… pic.twitter.com/Biy5CI2lZa
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) December 6, 2024
This expansion highlights the series’ development since its 2023 inaugural season and its growing pool of young female drivers.
Third Season in 2025
The addition of the Hitech Grand Prix marks a pivotal moment in the third season of F1 Academy, offering rising stars more opportunities to showcase their potential.
The British outfit competes in the GB3 Championship, British Formula 4, and Formula Winter Series and will field two full-time drivers. Hitech will also manage a third car designated for the Wild Card entry.
The Wild Card initiative was introduced in 2024 and has provided invaluable competitive experience to emerging talents at race six race locations.
In 2025, this programme will continue across all seven rounds.
Six Wild Card drivers have competed in the 2024 F1 Academy season. Courtney Crone, Ella Lloyd, and Nina Gademan have secured full-time seats for 2025 with Haas, McLaren, and Alpine, respectively.
Their success underlines the value of the Wild Card initiative in bridging the gap between grassroots racing and full-time competition. This will likely continue for the 2026 grid.
READ MORE: Abu Dhabi Showdown: Can Pulling Reclaim Her Crown in the F1 Academy Finale?
The 2025 F1 Academy Grid Expands
Hitech Grand Prix joins the established F1 Academy teams: ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, Rodin Motorsport, MP Motorsport, and PREMA Racing.
Each team will enter three cars in 2025. All six teams bring extensive experience from the junior racing categories, including FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2.
These teams then contain drivers backed by the 10 F1 teams and F1 Academy sponsors, such as Tommy Hilfiger.
Hear from those Behind the Move
Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 ACADEMY, expressed her excitement:
More cars, more opportunities, more progress 💪
Hear from Susie Wolff on the expansion of the F1 Academy grid to 18 cars and Team Manager for Hitech GP F1 Academy team, Dan Hodder on the their entry into the series.#F1Academy pic.twitter.com/6OeZY7w1Iz
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) December 6, 2024
Oliver Oakes, owner of Hitech Grand Prix, echoed her sentiments:
“I’m delighted to confirm Hitech’s participation in F1 ACADEMY from the 2025 season. A platform that inspires and supports young girls and women to embark on their motorsport journey is one that we have always fundamentally believed in and the opportunity to translate support into positive action by entering a team in F1 ACADEMY is really important to us. We applaud the commitment and determination of Susie Wolff as the force behind the change that the series is driving.”
Looking Ahead To the Future
So far, six drivers will compete in F1 Academy in 2025: Chloe Chambers (Red Bull Ford), Ella Lloyd (McLaren), Rafaela Ferreira (RB), Courtney Crone (Haas), Alba Hurup Larsen (Tommy Hilfiger), and Nina Gademan (Alpine).
Nine will depart from the 2024 season after completing their two seasons in the championship. Five drivers, who debuted in 2024, are unconfirmed.
Organisers will announce the remaining 12 in due course. They also typically announce Wild Card entrants before their race weekend.
With the grid expanding, F1 Academy solidifies its position as a key stepping stone in motorsport for female drivers. The 2025 season promises even more thrilling competition and a stronger platform for emerging talent.
