Who are the F1 Academy 2026 Rookies so far?

With a new season of F1 Academy approaching, we are greeted by fresh faces joining the grid. They will be racing alongside drivers competing in their second season in the championship, such as last years rookie of the year Ella Lloyd, Nina Gademan and Rafaela Ferreira. Here is an overview of all the rookies announced so far for the 2026 season.

📸 F1 Academy

Mathilda Paatz was one of the first new drivers confirmed for the coming season, announced in November. Paatz will be racing with PREMA under the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team Driver Academy. Having recently made her F1 Academy debut in Montreal as a wildcard entry and securing a podium in the F4 CEZ Championship at the RedBull Ring, Paatz is certainly a driver to watch out for during the 2026 season. 

Jade Jacquet is next, joining the Williams Racing Academy with ART Grand Prix. Jacquet has an impressive career so far, having started karting in 2023 and since participating in the French Junior Karting Championship and French F4 Championship. 

Ella Stevens is set to join the grid under the McLaren Driver Development Programme operated by Rodin. With plenty of achievements under her belt already, including being a Double English KZ2 Champion, Stevens topped the time sheets in F1 Academy rookie test in September. 

Rachel Robertson will join the grid in 2026 driving for PUMA in the Hi-tech operated car. Robertson made her F1 academy debut in Las Vegas after having taken part in the Rookie test previously and finishing with an impressive 5th place finish.

Kaylee Countryman joins for her rookie season supported by Haas and driving with ART Grand Prix. Her racing career began in 2022 and she has since progressed through to competing in the USF juniors as one of the three female drivers and securing four top ten finishes in 2025.

Lisa Billard is the next addition to the grid. Driving for ART Grand Prix and supported by Gatorade. Billard became the first female driver to win a race in the French Junior Karting Championship as well as her success in the 2025 French F4 Championship where she scored her first points with a ninth place finish.

With the arrival of Lego to the F1 Academy grid brings a new driver Esmee Kosterman. Making an impression on her F1 Academy debut at her home race in Zandvoort, Kosterman became the season's first wild card points scorer with a P7 finish in Race 2. 

📸Image credits: F1 Academy