F1 Academy Preview: Shanghai

Everything you need to know ahead of F1 Academy’s season opener in Shanghai — championship favourites, top stories, timings and more.

F1 Academy returns to Shanghai for a second year as a season opener | Credit: F1 Academy

F1 Academy returns for a historic fourth year of intense racing action, kicking off in Shanghai for a brand new season of high-stakes championship battles and gripping title rivalries.

Taking to the Shanghai International Circuit for a second consecutive year, the all-female series sees the beginning of a landmark new season from March 13th to 15th.

After a thrilling 2025 season powered by a fierce title rivalry between Doriane Pin and Maya Weug in the final rounds, the championship secured by Pin, it’s certain that the 2026 season will be no less exciting — perhaps even more so.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Shanghai special taking place alongside the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix weekend, where the F1 Academy grid will compete for the first time this year to fire up what is expected to be a thoroughly action-packed 2026 season.

Key Stories

Though the season is just about to begin, we already have plenty to talk about. 

For one, our 2026 championship favourites Ella Lloyd and Alisha Palmowski come off the back of exemplary rookie seasons, both drivers racking up a number of podiums and a win apiece.

McLaren’s Lloyd capped the season as the Top Rookie with fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, while the Red Bull supported Palmowski finished right behind her. Palmowski is widely tipped to seal the title, and has shown incredible grit and determination throughout her career and will be eager to prove her mettle early on.

Alisha Palmowski is the early title favourite | Credit: F1 Academy

We also have 11 rookies this season and seven drivers entering their sophomore and final year in the series, with the names like Ferrari’s Alba Larsen and Alpine’s Nina Gademan being ones to watch. 

Both drivers had successful debuts in 2025, Gademan collecting a memorable home win and Larsen impressing the paddock with consistent points throughout the season. Expect these two names to also potentially join the title mix and go toe-to-toe with the championship favourites.

Ahead of the season opener, it was also announced that Chinese driver Shi Wei will return to the grid in her second consecutive year as the Wild Card Driver (WCD) for the Shanghai round.

Finishing 14th in Race 2 last year and returning to F1 Academy after a historic win at the F4 Chinese Masters, the first F4 race victory secured by a Chinese female driver, Shi brings plenty of positive momentum into her second entry as a WCD with Hitech.

Shi Wei returns as the Wild Card entry for the Shanghai round | Credit: F1 Academy

Track Preview

Most of the grid have plenty of experience around the Shanghai International Circuit, with last year’s season opener and pre-season testing also hosted here, giving them an opportunity to get to grips with the track layout.

The venue famously features one of the longest straights on the F1 calendar and the longest for F1 Academy. The lap begins with one of the most distinct corners drivers will experience, with a tightening right-handed Turns 1 and 2, where Chloe Chambers launched a daring pass on Larsen in 2025’s Race 2 to seal her spot on the podium.

The track immediately coils into the Turn 3 hairpin and Turn 4 exit — a complex set of turns made even more exciting with significant elevation changes and almost becoming a blind corner towards the middle of the section.

The first set of corners saw plenty of action last year | Credit: F1 Academy

The lap then sweeps through Turn 5 into another hairpin at Turn 6, before the fast-flowing chicane of Turns 7 and 8. Followed by two left-handers and a tight left-right sequence at Turns 11 and 12, the lap opens up into the long-stretching straight after a right-hander at Turn 13.

The expansive 1.170 km (0.727 mi) straight presents several overtaking opportunities before feeding into a tight hairpin and a final left-handed corner at Turn 16 to finish the lap.

Both Race 1 and Race 2 will run for 13 laps around this venue, covering 70.863 km (44.03 mi). This track’s debut last year saw Palmowski clinch the Race 1 followed by 2025 Drivers’ Champion Pin take a Race 2 victory — Palmowski will no doubt be eager to replicate her success this year too.

Session Timings (in GMT)

Free Practice 1: Friday, 01:10

Qualifying: Friday, 06:05

Race 1: Saturday, 05:45

Race 2: Sunday, 02:40