Victoria Farfus tops expanded 2026 F1 ACADEMY Rookie Test
Farfus leads the way in Navarra
Victoria Farfus emerged as the standout performer at the 2026 F1 ACADEMY Rookie Test, setting the fastest overall time during the one-day on-track assessment at Spain’s Circuito de Navarra.
The 15-year-old Brazilian posted a time of 1:46.988 in the morning session, finishing three tenths ahead of Sofia Zanfari and Rosanne Den Drijver. The result put Farfus at the top of the combined classification as F1 ACADEMY completed its second Rookie Test.
Danielsson fastest in the afternoon
Alexia Danielsson responded in the afternoon by recording the quickest time of that segment. Driving the McLaren OXAGON-liveried car, Danielsson set a 1:47.259 to beat Ella Lähdemaa and Farfus by two tenths.
The expanded event brought together 18 drivers representing 14 countries. Across the day, the participants completed 1,447 laps as they were assessed in identical F1 ACADEMY machinery.
A broader path into the series
The Rookie Test is designed to give promising young female drivers an opportunity to demonstrate their ability on a level playing field and compete for a potential full-time seat or Wild Card opportunity.
The Navarra running followed a Rookie Training Camp at Loughborough University, where the drivers completed physical and cognitive assessments and took part in development workshops. They then spent two days immersed with the six F1 ACADEMY teams during in-season testing, gaining insight into the demands of competing in the series and undertaking further assessment activities.
The latest group included familiar names such as former 2026 Wild Cards Autumn Fisher and Zoe Florescu, as well as Mercedes junior Luna Fluxa Cross. The inaugural Rookie Test has already produced seven full-time drivers, including Zandvoort Reverse Grid Race winner Payton Westcott and podium finishers Megan Bruce and Natalia Granada.
“The Rookie Test has been a fantastic opportunity for the rookies to showcase their potential and benchmark themselves against other aspiring drivers and the current F1 ACADEMY grid,” said Katie Denver, F1 ACADEMY’s Performance & Talent Development Manager.
Denver added that the event had provided “valuable insight into the strengths, development areas and future potential of the next generation of female racing talent”, praising the drivers’ preparation and commitment throughout the test.