Assessing the four-way fight for F1 Academy glory in 2026

In January, it was announced that 22-year-old Pin, from France, would be graduating from the Mercedes Junior Programme, following its support of her since 2024, to the role of development driver with the F1 team, working both at the factory in Brackley and trackside.

“My two years as part of the Junior Programme have helped me grow as a driver, and this is a fantastic next step in my career," she said. "I’m excited to keep working with everyone at Brackley and Brixworth and progressing toward future opportunities, both on and off track."

Pin, who will also compete in the 2026 European Le Mans Series in the LMP2 Pro-Am class with the Duqueine team, additionally praised F1 Academy for the part it had played in her journey, claiming that it "provides a brilliant platform for female drivers".

She added: “As I continue my own journey in motorsport, I know there will be more incredible women following in my wheel tracks and I wish them all the very best of luck for the season ahead.”

Stepping to the fore in place of Pin, Weug and Chambers will be second-year drivers Ella Lloyd, Alisha Palmowski and Nina Gademan, who all won one race last season en route to finishing fourth, fifth and sixth in the standings. Alba Larsen, who posted strong results to claim seventh, will also be in the mix.

Lloyd, Palmowski and Larsen carry the support of F1 heavyweights McLaren, Red Bull Racing and Ferrari, while Mercedes following Pin’s departure has turned to 16-year-old American rookie Payton Westcott as her replacement.

The teenager will at least have Pin in her corner, offering advice, given her new status at Mercedes.

Mercedes recognises that at such a young age, Westcott faces a difficult challenge, although she excelled on her debut in F1 Academy last year when she finished sixth as a wildcard in the first race on home turf in the Las Vegas round.

"She steps into big shoes by succeeding Doriane, who set a very high benchmark within our programme," said Gwen Lagrue, driver development advisor with Mercedes. "We know Payton is a rookie, and we approach the season with realistic ambitions, but this is a challenge she understands and fully embraces."

Westcott will dovetail her season in F1 Academy by competing in Italian F4. Lagrue added: "The 2026 season will be intense for Payton, but we believe this dual programme will accelerate her progression and provide a solid foundation for her long-term ambitions in single-seater racing.”

Pin certainly believes Westcott has the talent to fill those "big shoes", she said: "She has shown encouraging signs of potential, demonstrating good natural speed. With time, experience, and consistent training, she is expected to continue progressing steadily throughout the season."

Westcott, though, forms part of a strong rookie line-up this season that will give the likes of Lloyd, Palmowski and Gademan a strong run for their money over the course of the seven-round calendar, although at the time of writing, the April date in Saudi Arabia is very doubtful due to the war in the Middle East.

Megan Bruce is not affiliated with an F1 team; she is supported by TAG Heuer and, at 21, is a late bloomer, not starting her single-seater racing career until 2023 with the Caterham Academy before moving to GB4 over the last two seasons. The British driver was also a very late entry as a wildcard for the Singapore round of F1 Academy last year.

Like Westcott, Lisa Billard is another 16-year-old rising star, and like Bruce, was also a wildcard in Singapore last year. The French teenager has spent the past year and a half competing in French F4, becoming women's champion last year. She was also the first female to win a race in the French Junior Karting Championship.

And then there is Ella Stevens, who is also being supported by McLaren, a first for F1 Academy as an F1 team throws its weight behind two drivers. The 19-year-old impressed in last season's rookie F1 Academy test before being signed up to McLaren's Driver Development programme.

Whilst the rookie trio should have their moments across the year, it is the more experienced quartet of Lloyd, Palmowski, Gademan and Larsen who should be competing for the title.

Past champions Pin and Abbi Pulling are both backing Palmowski, whilst 2021 W Series runner-up and multiple race winner Alice Powell has declared it to be "wildly unpredictable". Whilst Lloyd and Palmowski are naturally in contention, Powell also likes the look of Emma Felbermayr, who was 10^th last year, and who won one of the trio of races in Canada.

As to her eventual pick, she is siding with Pin and Pulling. "Ultimately, by the end of the season, it will be between Alisha [Palmowski] and Ella [Lloyd]," she said.

"They showed more consistency than the others throughout last year, strong pace and were strong coming through the field. Alisha probably will just nick it at the very end. She had some strong results.

"If you're looking towards the end of the season, Vegas was a strong track. She was very strong in Shanghai, and she comes through well in the reverse grid races too, which is obviously going to be really important."

Palmowski is naturally "excited" to continue with Red Bull this year and is itching to get the campaign going. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies feels the 19-year-old British driver is "going from strength to strength" after "a very promising rookie season".

As far as Pin is concerned, Palmowski has the edge. "Alisha is, in my view, the driver with the strongest potential to win the title this year," she said. "She has already demonstrated that she has the raw speed, and with more experience under her belt and better preparation heading into the season, she could truly set herself apart in 2026."