Ella Stevens tops the inaugural F1 ACADEMY Rookie Test

F1 ACADEMY has successfully concluded its inaugural Rookie Test at the Circuito de Navarra, with British racer Ella Stevens topping the timesheets in a competitive field.

The trailblazing test saw 18 promising rookie drivers participate in on and off-track activities designed to identify and nurture the next generation of female talent, whilst providing them with valuable opportunity to show why they should be considered for a full-time seat or a Wild Card entry for the 2026 season.

Stevens ended the test with the fastest overall time, posting a 1:46.921 during the first of two three-hour sessions. The 18-year-old pipped France’s Lisa Billard and American driver Payton Westcott to P1 by only 0.123s.

The afternoon running proved to be equally competitive with Westcott setting the pace with a 1:47.303s, closely followed by Britain’s Megan Bruce and Stevens, with over 1338 laps completed across the board.

Across the two-day event, held alongside in-season testing, the rookies were immersed in the six F1 ACADEMY teams, giving them an unparalleled learning experience in a professional racing environment alongside drivers from the 2025 grid. In addition, they participated in research-led physical and cognitive assessments delivered by the series’ Official Driver Performance & Research Partner, More than Equal.

Delphine Biscaye, Head of Race Operations, F1 ACADEMY said: “We’re delighted with the success of the rookie test in Navarra. This milestone accomplishment reflects over two years of collaboration with local ASNs, F4 Championships and our F1 ACADEMY and F1 teams. With the top three separated by just over a tenth of a second, the depth of the future talent pool is clear, and we’re proud of every driver who took part in this inaugural test.”

Katie Denver, Performance & Talent Development Manager, F1 ACADEMY, continued: “The Rookie Test has been a fantastic opportunity for the rookies to showcase their potential and benchmark themselves against other aspiring drivers and the current F1 ACADEMY grid. It has also been an insightful opportunity for us to gather evidence to inform long-term strategies to better support female drivers. This test was the result of close collaboration between the F1 ACADEMY teams and our Official Driver Performance & Research Partner, More Than Equal, and I was impressed by the professionalism and preparation shown by all participating drivers.”

The 2025 F1 ACADEMY season continues with the penultimate round in Singapore from October 3-5, but you can catch up with all reports and reactions from testing in Navarra on the official F1 ACADEMY website.