F1 ACADEMY expands support for Champions of The Future Academy for 2026

F1 ACADEMY has announced the renewal and expansion of its support for global karting series Champions of The Future Academy (COTFA), with up to 27 young female drivers set to be supported by F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE in 2026.

Since its launch in 2023, COTFA has made significant strides in increasing female participation, with the percentage of female drivers on the grid rising from 5% in its inaugural year to an impressive 30% in 2025, an incredible leap that reflects the growing impact that COTFA and F1 ACADEMY are having on the future female talent pool.

As part of its continued global expansion, COTFA has introduced two new national initiatives, which will serve as regional feeder series to complement its international championship:

• The Champions of the Future Academy Program UAE, with select participants supported by F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE, a two-round national karting championship running across 2025–2026.
• The British Champions of the Future Academy Program, with select participants supported by F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE, launching in 2026, which will run across four rounds.

F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE will continue its support for nine drivers, three in each age category, in the International Initiative Champions of the Future Academy Program. Additionally, in expansion of this support, F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE will support up to nine drivers, up to three in each age category, in each of the new National Initiatives.

All selected drivers across the three initiatives will participate in F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE-branded karts and race suits. RGMMC – the motorsport event management company responsible for organising and promoting all COTFA initiatives – will also contribute a 30% discount towards each F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE participant’s entry fee.

Ahead of the opening round of the UAE Initiative, taking place from 7–9 November 2025, F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE is supporting six drivers. The six supported drivers for the Champions of the Future Academy Program UAE, with select participants supported by F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE 2025/2026 season, are:

Minis (ages 8-11)

• Khloe McGill
• Atiqa Mir *DYD COTFAP 2025

Juniors (ages 11-14)

• Kalyani Pratheesh
• Ilijana Ostojic

Seniors (ages 14-17)

• Vanesa Silkunaite *DYD COTFAP 2025
• Ella Hakkinen *DYD COTFAP 2025

Entries for the British Champions of the Future Academy Program, with select participants supported by F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE, open at the end of October, and aspiring drivers can apply via COTFA to be considered for F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE support.

Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 ACADEMY, said: “It’s incredible to see how quickly the level of female talent in this championship has risen. With everyone on the same specification equipment and a capped budget, it gives us a real sense of who stands out on merit alone. Our supported drivers aren’t just competing - they’re winning races and showing they have potential talent to rise into F1 Academy and beyond. We’re now extending our support to up to twenty-seven drivers across the international and new UAE and British series - reinforcing our commitment to growing the talent pool.”

James Geidel, Champions of the Future President, added: “It has been a great pleasure working alongside F1 Academy Discover Your Drive over the past two years. Together, we’ve made significant progress in increasing female participation, which now stands at an impressive 30%. With the launch of the Champions of the Future Academy Program and its national championships, we’re now able to support female talent from the grassroots level on a broader, global scale.”

Katie Denver, F1 ACADEMY Performance & Talent Development Manager, added: “The expansion of Champions of the Future Academy gives us a stronger platform to identify, support, and develop emerging talent from an earlier stage. The introduction of regional series in the UAE and UK marks a new chapter to make karting more accessible, competitive, and inclusive, especially for female talent.”