As the 2026 grid fills up, find out more about the drivers announced for the upcoming F1 ACADEMY campaign.

With two months to go until the fourth F1 ACADEMY campaign kicks off in Shanghai, the grid is rapidly taking shape. Meeting new faces and welcoming back returning favourites, here is the lowdown on the 10 drivers that have been confirmed for 2026 so far…

Who are the 2026 F1 ACADEMY drivers?

Red Bull Racing's Alisha Palmowski and Racing Bulls' Rafaela Ferreira will be returning for their sophomore F1 ACADEMY seasons next year.

Alisha Palmowski and Rafaela Ferreira will be returning for their sophomore F1 ACADEMY seasons next year, with the Red Bull Racing Pepe Jeans Academy Programme and the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Academy Programme announcing that they have renewed the pair’s contracts.

Alisha Palmowski and Rafaela Ferreira retained for 2026 campaign

Wrapping up Round 4, Nicole Havrda, Rafaela Ferreira and Aiva Anagnostiadis reflect on their growth so far and their focus heading into Zandvoort.

Part 5 of Follow the Rookies wraps up the Montreal weekend, and the series, with Nicole Havrda, Rafaela Ferreira and Aiva Anagnostiadis reflecting on their growth so far and their focus heading into Zandvoort. 

WATCH: Follow The Rookies - Part 5 with Havrda, Ferreira and Anagnostiadis in Montreal

Go behind the scenes with Nicole Havrda, Rafaela Ferreira and Aiva Anagnostiadis as they take on a high-stakes weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

In Part 4 of Follow the Rookies, go behind the scenes with Nicole Havrda, Rafaela Ferreira and Aiva Anagnostiadis as they take on a high-stakes weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. 

WATCH: Follow The Rookies - Part 4 with Havrda, Ferreira and Anagnostiadis in Montreal

Following the conclusion of F1 ACADEMY Race 1 in Montreal, Felbermayr has been disqualified whilst Palmowski and Ferreira have been penalised.

Following the conclusion of F1 ACADEMY Race 1 in Montreal, Emma Felbermayr has been disqualified after the #5 Kick Sauber car was found to be below the minimum weight.

Felbermayr disqualified and Palmowski and Ferreira penalised following Montreal Race 1

Following the conclusion of Qualifying in Montreal, Rafaela Ferreira has had her fastest lap reinstated following a post-session review..

Ferreira's fastest lap reinstated following Montreal Qualifying

Rafaela Ferreira made the best out of a wet one-lap shootout in Miami to achieve her highest Qualifying result yet in P7.

Rafaela Ferreira was satisfied with a job well done, making the best out of a wet one-lap shootout in Miami to achieve her highest Qualifying result yet in P7.

Ferreira eyeing up reverse-grid victory in Miami after best-ever Qualifying

Alisha Palmowski is predicting that greater things are to come for Campos after the team's trio delivered three pieces of silverware in Shanghai.

Alisha Palmowski is predicting that greater things are to come for Campos Racing after the team's trio delivered three pieces of silverware in Shanghai. That success saw the outfit score a 50-point haul to propel them to the top of the Teams' Standings. 

‘One of our weakest weekends out of the way’ – Race winner Palmowski expecting greater things as Campos reflect on Shanghai success 

The Campos Racing Team Manager believes they can start building momentum, as her squad took control of the Teams’ Standings for the first time.

Team Manager Gabriela Parra believes Campos Racing can start building momentum in their title fight, as her squad took control of the Teams’ Standings for the first time in F1 ACADEMY.

Parra hails ‘solid start’ in Shanghai for Campos but insists ‘we’re still not where we want to be’

Following the conclusion of Free Practice in Shanghai, Rafaela Ferreira has been handed a grid penalty for both F1 ACADEMY races in Round 1.

Ferreira handed post-Practice penalty and Block to miss Shanghai Qualifying

Campos Racing were a team on the up in 2024, but now the Spanish squad are setting their sights even higher ahead of the 2025 F1 ACADEMY season. 

Campos Racing were a team on the up in 2024, but now the Spanish squad are setting their sights even higher ahead of the 2025 F1 ACADEMY season. 
After finishing bottom of the Teams’ Standings in 2023, last year saw them threaten the top spot — sitting only 26 points behind then leaders Rodin Motorsport after their home round in Barcelona. However, they were unable to sustain their form and eventually finished third. 

TEAM GUIDE: The Red Bull-backed trio looking to take Campos to the title in 2025

RB have announced that they will be fielding Brazilian driver Rafaela Ferreira for the 2025 F1 ACADEMY season.

RB have confirmed that they will be fielding Brazilian driver Rafaela Ferreira for the 2025 F1 ACADEMY season.

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RAFAELA FERREIRA

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