The next generation of F1 Academy talent took to the Circuito de Navarra for the 2026 F1 Academy Rookie Test, with 18 drivers given six hours to show what they could do behind the wheel.
By the end of the day, it was Victoria Farfus who sat at the top of the timesheets. The Brazilian set a 1:46.988 in the morning session, the only lap of the day to dip into the 1:46s.
However, Farfus wasn’t the only driver to make an impression. With a mixture of established F1 Academy rookies, Wild Card competitors and drivers experiencing the championship’s machinery for the first time, Navarra offered an early look at some of the talent hoping to reach the 2027 grid.
An important step towards F1 Academy
The Rookie Test gives emerging female drivers an opportunity to demonstrate their potential before making the step onto the F1 Academy grid. Ella Stevens, who went on to secure a full-time F1 Academy seat for 2026, topped the timesheets at the 2025 Rookie Test, showing just how valuable the opportunity can be.
The 2026 programme was expanded to include a three-day Rookie Training Camp at Loughborough University, where the drivers took part in physical and cognitive assessments alongside workshops covering the demands of professional motorsport.
That was followed by their time at Navarra, where the drivers worked with the F1 Academy teams before taking to the track themselves.
There is already a clear precedent for the test acting as a route into the championship. Seven drivers who took part in the inaugural 2025 Rookie Test went on to secure full-time F1 Academy seats for 2026, while two more made Wild Card appearances.
A strong performance at Navarra does not guarantee a place on the 2027 grid, but it gives teams another opportunity to assess drivers outside of the usual championship environment.
Farfus sets the benchmark
Farfus emerged as the driver to beat during the opening session.
The 15-year-old was involved in the battle for the top spot throughout the morning, with Sofia Zanfari initially setting the benchmark before Farfus moved ahead with her 1:46.988.
Zanfari finished the morning second, three tenths behind, while Rosanne Den Drijver completed the top three.
The afternoon brought a different driver to the front. Alexia Danielsson set a 1:47.259 to top the second session, with Ella Lähdemaa just 0.282 seconds behind and Farfus a further 0.006 seconds back.
Danielsson’s improvement was one of the more notable performances of the day. After finishing 10th in the morning, she found significant pace in the afternoon to end the session fastest.
The final session was brought to an early close after Kareen Kaur stopped on track with five minutes remaining, triggering a red flag.
With the two sessions producing different leaders, the results also showed how quickly the order could change across the day.
Drivers to watch
Farfus was the obvious standout after setting the fastest time overall, but several other drivers produced performances worth noting.
Zanfari showed strong early pace by finishing second in the morning, while Lähdemaa made one of the biggest moves between sessions, going from eighth in the opening session to second in the afternoon.
Danielsson’s afternoon performance was particularly eye-catching, while Kokoro Sato was another consistent presence near the front. She finished fourth in both sessions after briefly holding the fastest time during the morning.
There was experience within the field too. Danielsson, Den Drijver, Autumn Fisher and Zoe Florescu were all returning for their second Rookie Test, while Fisher and Florescu had already gained F1 Academy race experience through Wild Card appearances during the 2026 season.
For the less experienced drivers, Navarra offered something just as valuable: mileage in F1 Academy machinery and the chance to work directly with the teams they could eventually race for.
What comes next?
The 2026 F1 Academy Rookie Test was never going to determine the next grid on its own. Instead, it gave teams another set of performances to assess as they begin looking towards the 2027 season.
Last year’s test demonstrated how quickly the opportunity can turn into a full-time seat, with seven participants making the move onto the 2026 grid.
Now, the 18 drivers who took part at Navarra will have to wait and see whether their performances lead to further opportunities.
Farfus has the headline result after finishing fastest overall, but the test produced a much broader picture than a single lap time. With a new group of drivers now having their first taste of F1 Academy competition, Navarra could prove to be the starting point for several 2027 stories.
