By Ella Keene
March will see the return of F1 Academy in China when the racers take to the Shanghai circuit for the first of 14 races this season. The real question is who should we be watching to take the win this year?
F1 academy rules state that drivers can only carry out two seasons and the champion may not return after their win, meaning reigning champ Dorianne Pin won’t be making a reappearance this year.
With the wildcard entry for each circuit as well, there are racers we still don’t know about, but here are the ones you should keep your eye on right now.
Ava Dobson
The previous wild card entry has now been promoted to full time driver in F1 Academy with her first season being sponsored by American Express. At only 17 years old, Dobson has already competed in USF Juniors, the USF2000 Championship and two rounds in the GB4 Championship.
After her debut in Miami last year, she’ll be eager to prove herself in this full-time drive.
Ella Lloyd
After an impressive drive in 2025, Ella Lloyd will be looking to frequent the top step of the podium this year. Last season’s success led to her claiming Rookie of the Year, a title she’ll want to convert to champion after finishing fourth in the standings last year.
Ella Stevens
Stevens makes up the second half of the McLaren Juniors this season. With an impressive collection of trophies, including winning the UK’s premier karting class, she is certainly one to watch – already proving she deserves her seat by topping the rookie test timings.
Esmee Kosterman
Another wild card entry that has now converted to full time driver, Kosterman has already made two appearances in F4 categories also being the first woman to claim a victory at the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup Benelux.
Having already raced in Zandvoort, she can start on the front foot when racing at home, but the other six circuits for the F1 Academy season could prove tricky. Her track record says she should warm up to this year’s racing quickly.
Lisa Billard
Another one to watch in the form of French driver Lisa Billard. Having won the Female Trophy in French F4 and being the first woman to win a French Junior Karting Championship Race, Billard shows a lot of promise for the season ahead.
Payton Westcott
Westcott has been proving herself year after year since she began her F1 Academy journey. In 2024 she was selected for the Discover Your Drive Program that has now led to her claiming a full-time seat in the racing series.
She not only raced in Italian F4 but also E4 and F4 in Saudi where she made history as the only woman so far to win in a UAE Trophy series. Another wild card entry last year saw her achieve p6 on her debut – setting high expectations for the year to come.
With the impressive display of rookies coming in this year, drivers like Rachel Robertson and Nina Gademan will be eager to prove themselves in their second season. The talent across the board should make for a lot of exciting races.
WHEEL2WHEEL REPORTS 