The New F1 Academy Calendar: A Missed Opportunity?

The F1 Academy’s 2025 calendar has been revealed, featuring a lineup of seven international circuits, including Shanghai, Miami, and Las Vegas. While the series continues to expand its reach and make history, its new calendar raises an important question: Is it truly aligned with the championship’s core mission to develop young female talent for progression to higher levels of motorsport?

GRAPHIC FROM FOM

While the inclusion of new circuits like Shanghai and Las Vegas adds variety, the majority of the calendar feels like a patchwork of available dates rather than a deliberate effort to provide the best training environments. F1 Academy only overlaps with Formula 2 once at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit and not at all with Formula 3, which is supposed to be the next step in the motorsport ladder. This leaves the Academy largely disconnected from the established pathway to Formula 1 and that is a confusing decision for a championship aimed at preparing female drivers for the next step towards the pinnacle of motorsport.

The choice of circuits raises more questions. More than half of them are street circuits like Marina Bay and Las Vegas, which are thrilling but lack the characteristics of the technical and high-speed layouts found at F2 and F3 tracks such as Silverstone or Montmeló - in fact, only one round is in Europe. Street circuits often require unique skill sets that don’t necessarily translate to a broader range of tracks, limiting the Academy drivers’ opportunities to refine the skills they’ll need to compete in higher categories. 

But that’s not all. The calendar is also complicated by inconsistent scheduling. For example, the championship begins in March in Shanghai and stretches over eight months, with long gaps between races. The break between the Canadian GP in June and the Dutch GP in late August lasts for more than two months, disrupting the rhythm of competition.

That said, the calendar has its strengths. Its design isn’t random or purely for show - it’s influenced by various factors, including the support of promoters and the potential for real impact in each location. Unlike 2024, when F1 Academy often shared weekends with F2 and F3, leading to low-visibility time slots, the 2025 schedule prioritizes pairing with Formula 1, allowing the championship to shine. The reduced overlap with the other categories addresses one of this year’s main criticisms: insufficient media attention. While it’s true that the calendar fills gaps where other categories are absent, by maximizing exposure in different areas, the Academy focuses on expanding its global audience and attracting more attention to female drivers. Plus, this separation from F2 and F3 avoids competition for limited track time and media coverage during race weekends.

The challenge is balancing these goals with the championship’s developmental mission. Without access to circuits frequented by F2 and F3, F1 Academy risks becoming more of a standalone series than an integral part of the motorsport progression ladder. However, its alignment with Formula 1 offers great visibility and a platform to inspire the next generation of female racers. For now, the F1 Academy needs to balance their competing priorities while making sure it carries out its main goal: preparing female drivers for the next step in their careers.