F1 ACADEMY™ expands 2026 Rookie Test with new Training Camp supported by Loughborough University

The Rookie Training Camp and Rookie Test have been designed to help identify, develop, and support the strongest talent from an increasingly competitive and global pool of female drivers.

Working together, F1 ACADEMY and Loughborough University have created a programme that equips the next generation of female drivers with the knowledge and skills needed to accelerate their development both on and off the track. It will also provide valuable, science-backed insights into female athlete development, performance progression and transition challenges, helping to advance understanding across the wider motorsport ecosystem.

Eighteen female drivers, all eligible to compete in F1 ACADEMY in the future, have been selected to take part in the Rookie Training Camp at Loughborough University from 25-27 August before concluding with the on-track Rookie Test at Circuito de Navarra from 8-10 September.

During the Rookie Training Camp, drivers will undertake a range of assessments, including physiological profiling, cognitive testing, and VALD performance screening. They will also participate in seminars and interactive workshops led by Loughborough University's experts, covering topics such as strength and conditioning, performance lifestyle, resilience, and the key behaviours that underpin success in elite sport.

At the Rookie Test, drivers will be immersed within an F1 ACADEMY team environment, observing driver briefings and engineering sessions and gaining first-hand insight into the operational demands of competing at the highest levels of junior single-seater racing. They will also undertake media training and assessment activities to help prepare them for the off-track responsibilities of a professional racing career. The on-track test will conclude with the drivers getting behind the wheel of F1 ACADEMY machinery.

Lou Gear, Director of Sport, Loughborough University, said: "We are incredibly proud to welcome F1 Academy and its rookie drivers to Loughborough. This collaboration brings together two organisations with a shared belief in the power of talent, hard work, opportunity and world-class performance environments to unlock extraordinary potential.

"At Loughborough Sport, we have spent generations supporting athletes to pursue excellence on the world stage, and we see many shared values in F1 Academy's commitment to developing the next generation of female racing talent. Together, we are passionate about creating environments where ambitious young people can thrive, pursue excellence and fulfil their potential.

"We look forward to sharing our expertise, learning from one another and helping these exceptional drivers prepare for the demands of elite competition. Most importantly, this collaboration reflects our shared commitment to championing women in sport, creating more opportunities for talented female athletes to excel and inspiring the next generation to believe that there is no limit to what they can achieve."

Katie Denver, Performance & Talent Development Manager, F1 ACADEMY, added: "The success of our inaugural Rookie Test in 2025 demonstrated both the depth of female racing talent coming through the pathway and the importance of providing opportunities for drivers to showcase their potential.

"For 2026, we're taking the programme a step further with the introduction of the Rookie Training Camp, delivered with Loughborough University.

"This gives us the opportunity to support drivers not only on track, but also through a science-backed approach to athlete development, helping them better understand their physical, cognitive, and behavioural performance. By combining world-class expertise, research, and on-track experience, we're creating an environment where drivers can accelerate their development and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed both on and off the track."