The F1 Academy is back. The first chapter of the women’s category will take place in Shanghai alongside Formula 1: here is the full schedule for the weekend.
This weekend will host the first round of the fourth edition of the F1 Academy. The women’s category, created in 2022 and directed by Susie Wolff, will share the track at the Shanghai International Circuit with the top category, which arrives in China for the second event of the season. According to the Global F1 Fan Survey 2025, F1 Academy has recorded exponential growth compared with its debut year, becoming the second most-followed series behind only Formula One.
For the 2026 season as well, the championship will follow the same format: one free practice session to allow drivers to familiarize themselves with the track, followed by qualifying that will determine the grids for the two races scheduled. Race 1 will feature a reverse grid for the top 8.
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Abbi Pulling – campionessa dell’edizione 2024 – ha dichiarato la sue previsioni per la nuova stagione: “Probabilmente direi che la sfida sarà tra Palmowski, Lloyd e Larsen” ha aggiunto identificando le favorite al titolo, nonché le pilote più esperte in griglia. “Penso che saranno loro tre a essere ancora matematicamente in corsa. Potrebbero esserci uno o due altri piloti magari a uno o due punti di distanza. Sarebbe un’ipotesi più remota, ma tutto dovrebbe andare storto per gli altri. Ci saranno quindi diverse persone che, almeno matematicamente, potranno ancora vincere il titolo fino all’ultima gara“.
Reigning champion Doriane Pin would also consider Alisha Palmowski the favorite for the new season. Last year, the British driver, supported by Red Bull and now competing in her second and final F1 Academy season, finished fifth in the drivers’ standings with 91 points.
F1 Academy weekend schedule in China
The lights for the Chinese weekend will go out during the Italian night on Friday, March 13, with the first and only free practice session, followed by qualifying in the morning. Qualifying will determine the pole position driver for Race 1 (scheduled on Saturday with the top-8 reverse grid) and for Race 2 on Sunday morning. Fans across all regions can stream Qualifying and the Races from all seven rounds live on F1 ACADEMY’s YouTube and X channels and via F1 TV.
Friday, March 13
- 01:10 – Free Practice 1
07:05 – Qualifying
Saturday, March 14
06:45 – Race 1
Sunday, March 15
03:40 – Race 2
All schedules and weather forecasts for each Grand Prix and category can be consulted by downloading the official GPKingdom app, available for Android and iOS. - 07:05 – Qualifying
Saturday, March 14
- 06:45 – Race 1
Sunday, March 15
- 03:40 – Race 2
All schedules and weather forecasts for each GP and category can be checked by downloading the official GPKingdom App, available for Android and iOS.
Photo: F1 Academy.
