F1 Academy returns for its 2026 season this weekend with a new lineup of drivers and teams competing in the all-female racing series. Sky Sports F1 will broadcast every race live, continuing the platform's commitment to showcasing women in motorsport. The series features six teams - ART, Campos, Rodin Carlin, MP Motorsport, Prema, and Hitech - each fielding three cars for an 18-driver grid.

Last year's championship battle between Doriane Pin, Maya Weug, and Chloe Chambers saw intense competition across seven rounds, with Pin ultimately claiming the title after Weug's crash in the Las Vegas finale. The 2026 season introduces fresh talent, including German Mathilda Paatz and American Payton Westcott joining Prema, while British drivers Ella Lloyd and Alisha Palmowski return for their second campaigns. Returning drivers like Nina Gademan and Alba Hurup Larsen could be strong contenders given their experience.

F1 Academy maintains its format of racing on F1 weekends, starting with the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai this March. The series uses identical Tatuus T421 chassis powered by 174-horsepower turbo engines, reaching speeds up to 240kph. Points are awarded across two races per weekend using both reverse-grid and standard formats, with a maximum of 39 points available per driver. The series continues to serve as a crucial stepping stone for female drivers aiming to progress through motorsport's feeder categories toward potential Formula 1 opportunities.