Rather than arriving in its stead, F1 Academy would act as a feeder for W Series, as well as F3, F2 and F1. A 15-car grid will be comprised of five teams – run by F2 and F3 teams – running three cars each. There will be seven events during which there will be three races, for a total of 21 races throughout the season, with 15 days of official testing allowed.
It will be a one-maker, with Taatus T421s running Autotecnica’s turbocharged 165PS engines spanning the grid. These will be running Pirelli tyres. Funding will come from a mix of the teams themselves, the drivers and a subsidy from F1. Cost to drivers will be €150,000, a comparatively massively reduced amount compared to costs for a drive in comparable series.
The intent is to offer the best possible opportunity for female drivers to get a leg up into single-seater series and demonstrate their talent, earlier on in their careers. More track time, more experience with teams, more racing, are all invaluable to any driver looking to get ahead.