LEGO Racing to join F1 ACADEMY grid in 2026 in new multi-year partnership

The LEGO Group and F1 ACADEMY have announced an exciting multi-year partnership to inspire young fans, especially girls, through creative play and representation, with the LEGO Group set to be represented on the F1 ACADEMY grid in the 2026 season by driver Esmee Kosterman.

Additionally, the LEGO Group and F1 ACADEMY have revealed their first LEGO set together, now available for pre-order.

In 2026, Kosterman will serve as the premiere driver for LEGO Racing during her first full season in F1 ACADEMY. The 20-year-old Dutch driver has a rich history in the kart racing circuit and became the first woman to win in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup series in 2023, before going on to finish second in the Junior Cup and third in the overall standings.

In 2024, Kosterman moved into single seaters with Indian F4 and made her F1 ACADEMY debut as the Wild Card entry at Round 5 of the season in Zandvoort, her home race.

Kosterman’s car features a one-of-a-kind LEGO Racing livery, infusing the high-performance world of F1 ACADEMY with elements of LEGO play. The livery, created by the LEGO Design team, represents both entities through colours and patterns, merged in a playful way bringing the thrill of brick building and racing to life, with a unique checkered pattern.

The stunning, merged livery of the car, the driver and the first product from the partnership were revealed at the Las Vegas Grand Prix event by Susie Wolff, Managing Director at F1 ACADEMY, Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer at the LEGO Group, LEGO designers Beatrice Amoretti and Maria Jędryszek and hosted by Ariana Bravo.

This comes at a time where F1 is attracting new and younger audiences, with 42% of Formula 1’s fanbase now consisting of women. Recent research by the LEGO Group shows that 87% of girls surveyed would like to see more opportunities for girls in motorsport, 75% think racing sounds exciting, while 52% could see themselves as an F1 ACADEMY or race car driver one day.

At the same time, 82% of parents surveyed think it’s important for girls to see women represented in motorsport, but 76% think motorsport is often perceived as “more for boys”.

With this new partnership, the LEGO Group and F1 ACADEMY hope to inspire young fans, especially girls to explore their motor racing passions, both on and off the track.

Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 ACADEMY, said: “We’re so proud to welcome the LEGO Group as an Official Partner of F1 ACADEMY. This collaboration isn’t just about the possibility of building an F1 ACADEMY LEGO car, it’s about building belief in what’s possible.

“With our first partnership product, fans will be able to create something that stands for opportunity and representation. We hope every young girl who picks up these bricks sees more than just a model, she sees herself, her potential, and her place in the world of motorsport whether as a fan, engineer, driver or leader.

“Together, we’re challenging outdated perceptions of who belongs in motorsport and empowering the next generation of young women to build their own paths.”

Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer of the LEGO Group, added: “F1 ACADEMY is levelling the playing field in motorsport, giving young female athletes a clear pathway to achieve their dreams in the top tiers of the sport. We can’t wait to see LEGO Racing join the F1 ACADEMY grid and are so excited to have Esmee as our driver.

“For the first time, fans can hold their favourite F1 ACADEMY LEGO car in their hands, and I’m thrilled that we’re securing female representation in racing toys for young girls. We hope the infusion of LEGO play and creativity to this exciting sport inspires the next generation of young women in motorsport, as well as the female builders of tomorrow, that anything is possible.”

Esmee Kosterman, driver for LEGO Racing, said: “To be the first driver for LEGO Racing is such an exciting opportunity, and I can't wait to continue my racing journey with F1 ACADEMY.

“I've long been a fan of the LEGO brand, its creativity and what it stands for and to bring it to the track from the 2026 season onwards is incredible. I hope this inspires future generations of female drivers, that with hard work and determination, anything is possible!”

The LEGO Group also unveiled the LEGO Speed Champions F1 ACADEMY LEGO Race Car. The 201-piece set allows fans of LEGO Racing to hold their favourite car in their hands, and features intricate aerodynamic details, with the unique colourway and the #32 racing number, as featured on Esmee’s real on-track counterpart.

Additionally, the set is accompanied by a minifigure printed in a LEGO Racing colourway. The set brings F1 ACADEMY to life like never before, bringing the excitement from the track to the living room, reflecting the two brands’ commitment to championing female talent on and off the track.

As part of the first ever F1 ACADEMY weekend at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the LEGO Group will be presenting the podium finishers of both Race 1 and Race 2 with custom LEGO Botanicals Bouquets, in a moment that celebrates what is possible when talent is given the opportunity and platform to thrive. Each bouquet is built out of close to 2,000 LEGO elements and weighs close to 1kg.

The LEGO Speed Champions F1 ACADEMY LEGO Race Car is available for pre-order now from LEGO.com and select global retailers, with the set hitting shelves starting March 1, 2026 in LEGO Stores worldwide.