Meet the F1 Academy Class of 2026 - MP Motorsport and Rodin Motorsport
- Anny Wooldridge
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
F1 Academy is returning for its fourth season, predicted to be bigger than ever.
In 2026, the series will feature updated driver and car numbers, with 18 cars in Season 4. Teams such as ART Grand Prix, Hitech, Campos Racing, MP Motorsport, PREMA Racing, and Rodin Motorsport are returning, each fielding three cars.
The grid includes 17 full-time drivers, plus a one-off Wild Card entry per race. Similar to 2025, 10 of the 11 Formula 1 teams have nominated drivers, with McLaren supporting two and the Cadillac F1 Team expected in 2027. Sponsors include American Express, Gatorade, Juss Sports, PUMA, and Lego.
Find out who is driving for Hitech and ART Grand Prix and Campos Racing and PREMA Racing.
Here is the MP Motorsport and Rodin Motorsport F1 Academy class of 2026:
MP Motorsport
A rising MP Motorsport nearly clinched the 2025 Drivers’ title with Maya Weug. Now, they are committed to overcoming any obstacles to victory.
With Alba Larsen staying on and new additions Nina Gademan, a race winner, and Esmee Kosterman, a Wild Card points scorer, MP must reassess and prepare for the upcoming challenge.
Esmee Kosterman
MP Motorsport
Supported by: Lego
Nationality: Dutch
2025 F1 Academy Stats: Standings 15th, Points 6
Esmee Kosterman made an impressive F1 Academy debut at the 2025 Zandvoort race weekend as a Wild Card, becoming the first Wild Card to score points last season with a seventh-place finish. This season, she’s making her debut as a full-time driver supported by MP Motorsport and Lego.
Kosterman was born in Wijk bij Duurstede, the Netherlands, and began karting at the age of nine. She finished runner-up in the 2017 Dutch Karting Championship and represented the Netherlands at the 2018 Karting Academy Trophy.
In 2021, Kosterman stepped up to cars, joining NXT Racing at the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup. In 2023, she was the first woman to win the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup Benelux, where she finished second in the Junior Cup and third overall.
Kosterman has also raced in the Indian F4 and the F4 Saudi Arabian Championship, and took part in nine British F4 races last year.
Nina Gademan
MP Motorsport
Supported by: BWT Alpine Formula One Team
Nationality: Dutch
2024 F1 Academy Stats: Standings 16th, Points 13, Zandvoort Wild Card Entry
2025 F1 Academy Stats: Standings 6th, Points 74
Nina Gademan joined the 2025 F1 Academy season as a full-time driver after being the top 2024 Wild Card competitor. She returns to the grid for her final year, with ongoing support from Alpine and MP Motorsport. Last season, she achieved three podium finishes and won her first race at her home event in Zandvoort.
Born in Wijster, Netherlands, the well-known esports content creator started karting in 2018 after becoming a finalist in the 2019 Girls On Track Le Mans Shootout.
Her achievements include winning gold at the FIA Motorsport Games in the Karting Slalom Cup, earning rookie honours in the PTC Cup, and finishing second in the TB class of the 2022 24 Hours of Zolder. She made her single-seater debut in the 2024 British Formula 4 Championship, earning her first rookie podium at Thruxton.
Alba Larsen
MP Motorsport
Supported by: Ferrari
Nationality: Danish
2025 F1 Academy Stats: Standings 7th, Points 70
Danish driver Alba Larsen made her F1 Academy debut last season with MP Motorsport and was supported by Tommy Hilfiger. This season, she’s back, now supported by Ferrari.
Last season, she achieved five top-five finishes, with her best results being fourth place in Shanghai, Race 2, and Las Vegas, Race 2. She aims to secure a podium finish this year.
Larsen completed her first full racing season in 2022, finishing third in the Zealand Championship and earning two top-four finishes at the Danish and Nordic IAME Championships. In her second season, she became champion after winning four of five races.
In 2023, Larsen competed in the IAME Series Italy’s X30 Junior standings, finishing 64th, and placed 12th in the Danish Karting League’s X30 Junior series.
She debuted in single-seaters with two rounds in Indian Formula 4, finishing eighth and earning recognition as the best rookie with a podium finish.
This season, Larsen will also compete in the UEA4 Series and return to the British F4 grid.
Rodin Motorsport
Rodin Motorsport couldn’t reach the heights of 2024, but last season offered many positives for the team to consider. Emma Felbermayr and Ella Lloyd secured wins, with Lloyd achieving the team's first double podium after a close final few laps in Montreal Race 2.
Following her Rookie of the Year award, Lloyd is back for another attempt at the championship. As the leading figure among the trio, the McLaren driver remains determined not to become complacent about her performance.
Ella Lloyd
Rodin Motorsport
Supported by: McLaren Formula 1 Team
Nationality: British
2024 F1 Academy Stats: 18th, 8 points, Singapore Wild Card
2025 F1 Academy Stats: Standings 4th, Points 109
Last year’s F1 Academy Rookie of the Year, Ella Lloyd, is continuing her F1 Academy campaign for 2026, with continued support from McLaren Racing as part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme. This season, she hopes to fight for the 2026 title, after five podiums and a win in Jeddah Race 1 last season.
Although Lloyd never competed professionally in karting, she rapidly advanced and found immediate success in the Ginetta GT Championship, securing 10 wins, 10 pole positions, and 7 podium finishes, ultimately finishing as Vice-Champion in the Pro Class.
In 2024 and 25, Lloyd also participated in British F4. In 2025, she completed 21 races in F4, finishing 14th and taking third place on the podium at Zandvoort. She has also had the opportunity to take part in Formula E Rookie and Women’s Tests for McLaren and Envision Racing.
Lloyd was previously a gold medalist at the Welsh Skiing Championship and a decorated show jumper.
Emma Felbermayr
Rodin Motorsport
Supported by: Audi Revolut F1 Team
Nationality: Austrian
2025 F1 Academy Stats: Standing 10th, Points 37
Emma Felbermayr, a 19-year-old from Austria, made her debut in F1 Academy and single-seater racing with Rodin Motorsport and the Kick Sauber F1 team for the 2025 season. She is returning in 2026 with the continued backing of Rodin Motorsport and Audi F1. Last season, Emma achieved six points finishes and won Montreal Race 2.
Starting her karting career at age seven, Felbermayr hails from a family of racers, with her father and grandfather both competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
She progressed through the Austrian Micro Class, Mini, and Junior categories before moving to international racing at 13. Since then, she has finished second in the ADAC Ladies Cup and has competed in WSK-Karting and the World and European Championships.
Ella Stevens
Rodin Motorsport
Supported by: McLaren Oxagon
Nationality: British
Ella Stevens was recently announced as the second McLaren junior driver for the 2026 season, as she embarks on her first single-seater campaign.
The Brit topped the timesheets last year for the first-ever F1 Academy Rookie Test by 0.092s, proving she’s more than ready to make the jump from karting to single-seaters.
The 19-year-old was a shining star in karting, being a double English KZ2 champion and the 2025 British KZ2 vice-champion and becoming the only female to win a race in the UK’s premier karting series.
Stevens also won the British Birel ART Cadet Championship, competed in SuperKarts, tested F4 machinery and is supported by Alice Powell.
F1 Academy gets underway for the 2026 season in Shanghai for Round 1 on March 13-15, alongside the F1 Chinese Grand Prix weekend.
All images are credited to F1 Academy Limited.
This diversity enhances creative dessert pairings, including combinations with nuts, spices, or fresh fruit. High-grade best chocolate melts evenly and sets with a pleasing snap, demonstrating proper tempering and ingredient balance.