A beginner's guide to F1 ACADEMY

Aston Martin Aramco F1 ACADEMY driver Mathilda Paatz competes in the ultra-competitive, all-female, single-seater series this season. Here's your essential guide to F1 ACADEMY in 2026.

The fourth season of F1 ACADEMY continues in Montréal on 22-24 May, with 17-year-old German racer Mathilda Paatz representing Aston Martin Aramco.

To get you up to speed, here's everything you need to know about the championship…

What is F1 ACADEMY?

F1 ACADEMY provides a platform for young female drivers to hone their skills and gain crucial experience, helping them develop and progress on their climb up the motorsport ladder.

Who is competing in the series?

Having risen through the junior ranks, first in karting and then in Formula 4, Mathilda is competing in F1 ACADEMY this year for PREMA Racing, with Aston Martin Aramco Driver Ambassador and Head of F1 ACADEMY Jessica Hawkins offering expert advice and guidance throughout the campaign.

Mathilda is joined on the grid by 17 other ambitious drivers, all of whom were aged between 16 and 25 years old at the time of the first race of the season. The exception to that rule are the Wild Card entries offered to drivers from selected regions throughout the season.

The car

F1 ACADEMY is a one-make series, meaning that all drivers use the same machinery. At their disposal is a single-seater car akin to those used in Formula 4 series. Each car uses an identical Tatuus T421 chassis, 13-inch Pirelli tyres and a turbo-charged 1.4-litre Autotecnica engine that produces 174bhp and reaches speeds of up to 150mph.

The calendar

The 2026 F1 ACADEMY season comprises six rounds, with each featuring on the Formula One support package during a Grand Prix weekend.

The series got underway at China's Shanghai International Circuit in March. Next, it will make its way across the Atlantic to Montréal, followed by round three at the legendary Silverstone Circuit. Round four will be by the sea at Zandvoort, and then the series will conclude with two stops in the States: the penultimate round in Austin before the season comes to a close under the bright lights of Las Vegas.

13–15 March

Shanghai

22–24 May

Montréal

3–5 July

Silverstone

21–23 August

Zandvoort

23-25 October

Austin

19–21 November

Las Vegas

The schedule

A fresh format, introduced following the confirmation that the round over the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend would not take place in April, will be introduced for Montréal and Austin. During those two weekends, there'll be three races across the weekend: the Opening Race, the Reverse Grid Race and the Feature Race.

A 30-minute Qualifying session determines the grid for each race, with the new Opening Race being decided by each driver's second fastest lap-time.

For the calendar's remaining rounds at Silverstone, Zandvoort and Las Vegas, the format remains unchanged with two races.

F1 ACADEMY race weekends include one 40-minute Free Practice session, which gives teams and drivers the opportunity to dial into the circuit and hone their preferred setups, followed by Qualifying.

The Reverse Grid Race is set by reversing Qualifying's top eight drivers, with drivers in ninth to 18th starting where they qualified. Each driver's fastest lap will set the grid for the Feature Race, in a standard format.

The points

A maximum of 39 points are available to a driver during a two-race F1 ACADEMY weekend, with 65 points up for grabs during the new three-race format.

The Opening Race and Feature Race award the same amount of points, with the top 10 classified drivers scoring 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 points respectively.

In the Reverse Grid Race, points are awarded to the top eight classified drivers on a sliding scale of 10 points for the victor, then 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.

In each race, one point will also be awarded to the driver who achieves the fastest lap, provided she was in the top eight positions of the final classification of the Reverse Grid Race or the top 10 in the Opening Race and Feature Race.

Two points will be awarded to the driver that earns pole position for the Feature Race.

How to watch F1 ACADEMY and follow Mathilda's progress

The 2026 F1 ACADEMY season will be shown live around the world and streamed live on F1 ACADEMY social channels. Stay tuned to this website and follow @AstonMartinF1 on social for the latest updates from Mathilda, Jessica and the team throughout the season.