F1 Academy is taking another step in its mission to shape the future of female motorsport. The first-ever F1 Academy Rookie Test is happening this week in Navarra, Spain — bringing together 18 young drivers from karting, F4, and other junior categories to benchmark themselves against the current grid. But what is this rookie test really for? Why now — and how will it help deliver on the series’ mission to identify and nurture the next generation of female talent?
The Paddock Chronicle had the chance to speak to Katie Denver, F1 Academy’s Performance & Talent Development Manager, to discuss the ins and outs of this landmark rookie test.
What is the F1 Academy Rookie Test?
Taking place on 17–18 September at Circuito de Navarra in Spain, the F1 Academy rookie test is a landmark first for the all-female series. The eighteen drivers will all be eligible to compete in 2026 and, over two days, they will benchmark themselves under identical conditions and equipment. They will do so while the current F1 Academy grid carries out its in-season testing ahead of the penultimate round of the year in Singapore.
The initiative is designed not just as a showcase of speed, but as a comprehensive development opportunity. On the first day, rookies will be embedded within an F1 Academy team, observing engineering briefings and test sessions, before undergoing physical and cognitive assessments delivered by the series’ Official Driver Performance & Research Partner, More Than Equal. Each driver will leave with detailed feedback on strengths, endurance, cognition, and areas for improvement.
For F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff, the rookie test marks a major milestone in the series’ mission.
“Over the past three years, the global female talent pool has grown stronger and more competitive, and our priority is to ensure that we have the best possible drivers competing in F1 ACADEMY. With this test, we are providing eighteen of the most promising talents with an equitable platform for them to demonstrate that they deserve a seat on an F1 ACADEMY grid.”
Katie Denver echoes that perspective, highlighting how the test fits into the broader driver pathway.
“It’s very difficult to compare drivers across different series. Bringing them together not only gives them on-track time but also assessments to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Even if they aren’t selected for a seat in 2026, we want them to leave this rookie test with a positive experience and clear takeaways for their development.”
The Importance of Performance and Talent Development in Motorsport
Performance and talent development is key for the success of these young drivers. In F1 Academy, this role is managed passionately by Katie Denver, who not only identifies emerging talent and supports the current grid, she also monitors the progression into higher categories. That can mean anything from analysing timesheets beyond raw lap pace, to preparing drivers for the physical demands of races like Singapore, or staying connected with those moving into other series.
“I’m still working very closely with Abbi Pulling, for example — attending some of her GB3 testing and racing, having performance discussions, and making sure we’re present to support in the right way when needed,” Denver explains.
But the real priority is equipping drivers to manage their own growth. It’s a philosophy that ensures drivers leave F1 Academy not only more competitive, but also better prepared to navigate the next steps in their careers with independence and resilience.
“I really empower the drivers to own their own programmes,” Denver says. “They have to believe in it and engage the right people at the right time. Every environment they move through will be different, so if they can lead their own development, they’re not relying on anyone else to tell them what to do.”
The Rookie Test as a Wider Development Pathway
At its core, the rookie test serves as a stepping stone in F1 Academy’s wider development pathway, directly linking to initiatives such as the Driver Development Guide and the Champions of the Future Academy. By combining on-track sessions with holistic assessments, the test provides a structured framework for drivers to understand where they stand — and where they need to improve.
The selection process reflects that long-term vision. F1 Academy scouted across different junior series, identifying 15 to 17-year-old drivers with the potential to build a career in single-seaters. Results and track performance mattered, but so did education, support networks, and commitment to the sport. Those who didn’t make the cut weren’t simply turned away — they received feedback and guidance to prepare for future opportunities.
“Some of them just simply aren’t ready, and that’s fine,” Katie Denver explains. “What we don’t want to do is bring a driver into an opportunity when they’re not prepared and set them up to fail. We make sure they know why they weren’t invited this time, and what they need to work on so they can come back stronger.”
The presence of the current F1 Academy grid in Navarra adds another dimension. While rookies showcase their skills, established drivers continue their own in-season testing, and that overlap creates a unique environment: it’s a rare chance for newcomers to learn from and measure themselves against the standards of the existing field.
Rookies will also undergo research-led physical and cognitive profiling thanks to F1 Academy’s partnership with More Than Equal. These benchmarks — developed from studies of F4 and F3 drivers — provide both an individual development roadmap and a contribution to the broader evidence base on female driver performance. In practice, it means that whether a driver secures a seat or not, they leave with knowledge, tools, and actionable feedback to carry forward.
Bridging the Gap to Formula 3
For all the progress made by female drivers in recent years, the next step up the ladder remains elusive. Marta García, winner of the inaugural F1 Academy season, is making history with Iron Dames. Abbi Pulling is doing much of the same, showcasing her talent in GB3, and Nerea Martí continues to impress in GT. Yet, since Sophia Flörsch’s stint in Formula 3, no woman has secured a full-time seat at that level yet. The gap is still there — and it is significant.
Katie Denver acknowledges the scale of the challenge.
“The gap is big — physically, technically, tactically — and we know it is,” she says. “That’s the same for anyone moving through the pathway, but what we want to do with the rookie test is prepare drivers so that when they step into F3, nothing is a surprise.”
The Navarra test is the first time such a large group of female drivers will be assessed side by side, making it possible to build a clearer picture of where they stand compared to F1 Academy’s current grid and, crucially, the benchmarks of F4 and F3.
Here, the collaboration with More Than Equal plays a key role. By comparing rookies’ data against male counterparts at the same stage, F1 Academy hopes to identify not only individual gaps but also systemic barriers that might hold back progression.
“We’ll hopefully come out of this week with insights and knowledge to shape how we close that gap in the future,” Denver adds. “This can really help us understand what it takes to prepare female drivers for that next step.”
In that sense, the F1 Academy rookie test isn’t just an audition for 2026, but a long-term research exercise, designed to accelerate the moment when a woman once again lines up on the Formula 3 grid.
Nurturing the Next Generation of Female Talent
It is clear that the F1 Academy rookie test is more than a one-off event. It marks a new step in their mission to identify and nurture the next generation of female talent — not by handing out opportunities, but by preparing drivers to seize them.
The initiative is about building a stronger, fairer pipeline while also giving young women the tools and confidence to take charge of their own development. F1 Academy has been clear from the start that “this series is not the final destination, but a stepping stone”. The real measure of success will be when more women make the leap into Formula 3, Formula 2, and ultimately Formula 1.
Whether the rookies in Navarra secure a seat for 2026 or not, they will leave with something more valuable than lap times — a clearer picture of what it takes to progress, and the resilience to keep pushing towards the top. And that is how the sport gets closer to seeing a woman on the Formula 1 grid.
Feature Image Credit: F1 Academy