Meet F1 Academy’s Montreal Wild Card Driver: Autumn Fisher
- Justyna Rosak
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Introduced in 2024, F1 Academy's ‘Wild Card’ initiative aims to strengthen the driver talent pool by creating opportunities for a talented, female driver to gain a seat for a specific weekend. Drivers are prioritised by race region, allowing a unique opportunity to experience high-performance racing in a familiar environment. For most drivers this has acted as a ‘debut’ of sorts.
During the 2026 F1 Academy season so far, Chinese driver Shi Wei returned as the Wild Card Driver (WCD) in Shanghai following her appearance in 2025. Autumn Fisher has now been announced as the WCD for the upcoming Montreal weekend.
Fisher will make her debut competitive entry into F1 Academy after competing in the series’ inaugural rookie test just last season. She will race representing Standard Chartered — the ‘Official Wealth Management Partner and Official Corporate & Investment Banking Partner’ for the series as of January this year.
No stranger to racing, the 18-year-old Canadian driver only recently made the move from karting to single-seater racing. Earlier this year, she competed in the French F4 Championship following her debut at Nogaro.
The Road to Racing athlete has continued to establish herself as a recognised young talent within motorsport. Her performance at Brand’s Hatch during the British F4 Championship displayed her racing ability, where secured an impressive top-20 finish, earning championship points along the way.
With only a short transition period between karting and single-seater racing, Fisher’s rapid development showcases her adaptability and potential as a part of the next generation of female drivers entering the exciting world of high-performance motorsport.
Her debut will provide an exciting opportunity for the young driver to further showcase her racing persona while introducing her to the global Formula One support series audience, and the highly competitive nature of racing in an F1environment.
As F1 Academy continues to provide a global platform for emerging talent, this wild card entry opens another pathway for aspiring drivers to gain experience by racing alongside an F1 race weekend, receiving exposure at the highest level of the sport.
Fisher continues to accelerate through races, building momentum early in her racing career, establishing herself strongly in the races she has entered so far. Her F1 Academy debut may just mark another significant step forward in her progression through motorsport.
As she prepares to step onto the grid, motorsport fans will be just as eager to see what this young Canadian racer can achieve on not only one of the sport’s biggest stages but also at her home track, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Edited by Meghana Sree
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