F1 ACADEMY, the all-female single-seater championship backed by Formula 1, has announced three major developments for the 2026 season involving LEGO Racing, Gatorade and the Red Bull driver pathway. The updates reinforce the series’ growing commercial pull as it moves toward a larger global calendar and expanded visibility next year.
LEGO, the global toy and entertainment company, will join the 2026 grid under a new multi-year agreement that introduces a dedicated LEGO Racing entry into the championship. The team has signed 20-year-old Dutch driver Esmee Kosterman as its first full-season driver. Kosterman, who made a strong impression as a wildcard at Zandvoort and holds a Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup victory, brings a competitive foundation to the programme. LEGO will complement the partnership with a Speed Champions model of the 2026 car, strengthening its youth engagement strategy by linking the team’s on-track identity with a consumer-facing product.
Gatorade, the international sports hydration and performance brand, has confirmed a partnership with 16-year-old rookie Lisa Billard for 2026. Billard earned her seat following standout work during the 2025 rookie test and a confident wildcard performance in Singapore. The agreement includes support from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, giving Billard structured performance resources across hydration, conditioning and recovery as she steps into her first full F1 ACADEMY campaign.
Red Bull has also renewed and extended its involvement in the championship for 2026, confirming continued support for Alisha Palmowski with Oracle Red Bull Racing and Rafaela Ferreira with Racing Bulls. Palmowski, 19, has delivered a convincing rookie season highlighted by a win in Shanghai and multiple podium finishes. Ferreira, 20, completed her first international campaign with consistent points-scoring weekends and remains a core long-term project for the Racing Bulls driver development structure.
These three deals highlight the acceleration of F1 ACADEMY’s commercial landscape. LEGO brings global cultural influence, Gatorade adds performance science credibility, and Red Bull deepens its commitment to long-term driver development. Together, they represent a maturing ecosystem that is now attracting major brands, structured youth pathways and multi-year investment.
The 2026 season is expected to feature a larger calendar, expanded broadcast coverage and deeper integration with F1 race weekends, giving these partnerships significant visibility on and off the track.
The announcements arrive shortly after all ten Formula 1 teams renewed their multi-year commitments to the championship, confirming continued support for one driver and one fully branded livery each season. This alignment cements F1 ACADEMY’s role as the primary pipeline for emerging women racers and ensures direct integration with the top tier of international motorsport.
The news also follows the conclusion of the 2025 season at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Doriane Pin claimed the driver’s title and PREMA Racing secured the team’s crown. With Kosterman building momentum from her European campaign, Billard entering as a standout rookie, Palmowski fighting for a top-five finish in 2025, and Ferreira showing strong developmental progress, the competitive field continues to evolve in step with the series’ commercial growth.
F1 ACADEMY will announce additional 2026 entries, partners and calendar updates in the months leading up to pre-season testing.
