Alba Larsen and the F1 Academy: A Glimpse of What Could Be
Photo: F1 Academy
When the F1 Academy launched, it did so with ambition, but also with uncertainty. Framed as a bold effort to reshape the path for female drivers toward the pinnacle of motorsport, it promised opportunity, visibility, and ultimately, progress. But in its first couple of seasons, the series felt more like an experiment than a revolution.
It was populated by older drivers whose careers were already mature, giving the impression that the Academy wasn’t about development. Questions arose. Was this really the platform to nurture young talent?
That’s why Alba Larsen, at sixteen, matters so much. She isn’t a veteran, she’s one of the youngest in the grid, growing fast in a series that’s finally finding its path.
Since the start of the season, Alba has impressed. She soared into the podium hunt in Shanghai, qualifying third on debut and finishing inside the top five, an outstanding debut for someone with limited single-seater experience. The buzz was immediate: “She’s exactly the kind of driver F1 Academy needs”.
Her momentum didn’t stop there. Last weekend in Montreal, on unfamiliar tarmac, she showed real grit. She topped the practice charts and executed a bold mid-race charge, gaining multiple positions in a single race. It wasn’t just speed, it was composure, courage, and proof that she belongs in this fight.
This isn’t about stats. Alba’s steady climb matters because it signals something deeper: that the F1 Academy is starting to deliver on its promise. She’s living proof that when a young woman is given the opportunity and support, she can shine, and push the program forward. That’s how change begins, with a prototype that works. Alba’s presence alone isn’t magic, but it challenges what the series could become: a real feeder championship. And while other programs, like Iron Dames, have done more to accelerate female progression in GT racing, Alba suggests F1 Academy is closing the gap in its own lane.
Of course, the series still has hurdles: exposure remains limited, the pathway to F3/F2 unclear, and the grid experience uneven. But with a teenager leading the charge, something unmistakable is happening. F1 Academy is no longer just a concept. It’s becoming a testing ground where talent is forged under pressure, not just displayed. Alba Larsen is proof, not promise. A living reminder that female talent isn’t rare, it’s just been overlooked. And when it finally gets the right platform, it doesn’t just show up, it excels.
That’s the future F1 Academy once imagined. And for once, we’re seeing it unfold.
