F1 Academy 2024: Competition Manager discusses what’s next for the series
F1 Academy
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- Ludo van Denderen
Marta García (Prema Racing) is on course of being crowned the very first champion in F1 Academy, although Hamda Al Qubaisi and Léna Bühler can still win it all. The series, specifically formed for talented female drivers, has just one more race weekend remaining. But the organiser's focus is already on next season. They are currently planning the 2024 race calendar for F1 Academy. It's already certain that F1 Academy will be the support series to Formula 1.
F1 Academy will race alongside the F1 calendar in 2024, says Delphine Biscaye, F1 Academy's Competition Manager, during an exclusive interview with GPblog: "So the races will be in the same weekend as F1, something we do this year only at the last one [during the American Grand Prix in Austin]. And then still there are our collective test days."
Lots of track time for F1 Academy
One of F1 Academy's main goals is to help talented women become excellent drivers by, giving them a lot of experience in the sport. This requires a lot of track time. That is precisely what makes it complicated to draw up a calendar for 2024. "It's difficult as well because we really want to keep as much track time as we can. We've got two free practices of 40 minutes, two qualifying sessions of 15 minutes and then three races, two of 30 and one of 20. So it's big track time for an F1 weekend. So to keep this track time, we also need to see what the other support series are doing. So we can't be there if everyone is there."
By 'everyone', Biscaye means Formula 2, Formula 3 and the Porsche Supercup, long-time Formula 1 support series. F2 and F3 will always run on the same weekends next season, except in Azerbaijan (only Formula 2 will be present then). No races of these step-up classes are scheduled at Zandvoort for 2024. The programme of the Porsche Supercup is still unknown. This year in Europe, this series did not compete in Barcelona. "We could go anywhere. So we are trying to keep at least two in Europe. That's the goal to keep at least two in Europe. But we know that we have to have more overseas than F2 and F3, especially because they are more in Europe. So as I said, we can't be there if everyone's there. So we need to pick locations where we've got track time. So we're trying to keep two in Europe, but the rest will probably be overseas. Could be overseas anywhere," Biscaye said.
Zandvoort seems obvious
With two races in Europe as a target, it seems obvious that Zandvoort will be a place where the women will compete in 2024. "I don't know, we've been there with DTM. OK, not with F1, but we've been with DTM. And to be honest, I love Zandvoort. We love the destination, the place, the track, the atmosphere is great. So personally, I'd like to return, but I'm not the one [making the decision]."
According to Biscaye, a decision on the F1 Academy calendar 2024 will follow shortly: "So I can't give you the exact date, but it should not be too long."