What is F1 Academy?
What is F1 Academy?
Everything you need to know about the 2024 F1 Academy season
F1 Academy was launched in November 2022 by Formula 1, an initiative aimed at fostering female talent in motorsport. With a total funding of 2.25 million euros (approximately 2.44 million dollars), the academy, spearheaded by managing director and former professional racing driver Susie Wolff, aims to provide enhanced opportunities for women in single-seater racing, culminating in a potential pathway to Formula 1.
The inaugural F1 Academy season took place in 2023, with Prema driver Marta Garcia becoming the series' first champion. Garcia has received a fully funded 2024 seat in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), as has runner-up Buhler.
Saudi Arabian GP F1 Weekend will see the inaugural race for the 2024 F1 Academy season. We bring you all the things you need to know about the F1 Academy 2024 season.
The Cars
F1 Academy will see all drivers race in identical cars - a Tatuus Automobile-designed T421 chassis also used in Formula 4. Turbo-charged engines supplied by Autotecnica power the cars - 4 cylinders turbo 1.4 liters, 174hp @5500rpm, while Pirelli will supply tyres.
The Gearbox will be a Bespoke six-gear longitudinal gearbox designed by Sadev. The cars will have a top speed of 240 kph (149mph), Lateral acceleration of up to +/- 2.0 G, Maximum braking deceleration of -1.5 G, Acceleration of 0 – 100 km/h: 3.6 seconds, Acceleration of 0 – 200km/h: 12.5 seconds.
Race Weekend Format
Race weekend starts on Friday with the final race being held on Sunday. The weekend format includes a Free Practice session of 40 minutes followed by a Qualifying session later.
In Qualifying, each driver’s fastest lap will set the grid for Race 1. The Drivers' second-fastest laps will set the order for Race 2.
Both races will be 30 minutes. An extra point will be awarded to the driver with the fastest lap if they are classified inside the top 10.
Points System
The points system mirrors that of Formula 1, for both races, the top 10 classified drivers will be awarded 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1 points respectively.
In each race, one point will be awarded to the driver who achieves the fastest valid lap time, providing she is in the top 10 positions of the final race classification. No point will be awarded to the driver who achieved the fastest lap but is not within the top 10 classified drivers in the final classification, or if the leader has completed less than 50% of the scheduled race distance.
Race Calendar of 2024
The forthcoming season promises an exhilarating journey across three continents, with Asia joining Europe and North America on the calendar. The schedule will encompass a mix of street circuits and traditional tracks, providing drivers with a diverse range of challenges. The 2024 campaign kicks off in Jeddah before venturing to new tracks such as Miami, Marina Bay, and Losail. Finally, the season will culminate in a thrilling finale at Yas Marina, promising an electrifying conclusion to an action-packed season.
The Grid
F1 Academy features five teams - ART, Campos, Rodin Carlin, MP Motorsport, and Prema - each entering three cars to make up a 15-strong grid.
The Driver will be the following:
What Changes in 2024?
The 10 F1 teams will each have a female driver representing them. The liveries of all 10 F1 teams will be on the supported driver's car, so you will see the colors of Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and more.
Earning points in the 2024 F1 Academy season can contribute to a driver's accumulation of FIA Super Licence Points, which are essential for competing in Formula 1. Attaining 40 Super Licence Points is a prerequisite for entry into Formula 1, making participation in the F1 Academy a potential stepping stone for women aspiring to reach the pinnacle of motorsport.
"I would like to thank the Formula 1 team for their support and vision in starting this journey together," said Wolff.
WildCard Entry
From the 2024 season onwards they are introducing a new concept of Wild Card entry where Perma Racing would operate Wild Card apart from their 3 entries. This driver would be able to score points and have a position on driver standing but these points would be accumulated in team points. Along with this, the drivers would also be selected from the region where the round would be taking place.
Reema Juffali has earned the first wildcard for a 2024 F1 Academy weekend as the 32-year-old Saudi Arabian racer will race on home soil at the 2024 season-opener in Jeddah. Juffali already has experience at F4-level and raced in the GT World Challenge Europe series last year in a Mercedes GT3 car.
Super License Points
The top 5 drivers at the end of the season would be receiving Super Licence points with the winner getting 10 points followed by the second and third drivers getting 7 and 5 points respectively while 3 and 1 points for the fourth and fifth drivers.
Schedule for the Race 1
