Formula 1 is a full-on sports phenomenon as one of the most prestigious forms of single-seating race car driving in 2026, but it’s not the most diverse in terms of gender. Formula 1 Academy, a division of F1 races that champions the best young women in the field from ages 16 to 25, is hoping to change that by giving women and girls the opportunity to race at the highest level and bridge the gap between men and women in professional race car driving.
This year, there are many amazing women participating, including Lisa Billard, Emma Felbermayr, Ava Dobson, Mathilda Paatz, and Kaylee Countryman. Cosmopolitan had a chance to speak with these athletes at the Disney x F1 Academy Driver dinner during the Canadian Grand Prix in Montréal as Disney launched the Minnie Collective, a new platform to celebrate young women and their ambitions. Speaking with the young drivers about their experiences highlights both the importance of motor racing and what their participation in the races means for the sport as a whole. Get to know more about them below.
Lisa Billard
Sponsor: Gatorade
About: Lisa is a 16-year-old driver from Normandy, France. She began karting at the age of 7 and was selected to participate in F1 Academy’s rookie test in September 2025, where she finished second overall in the competition. Speaking to Cosmopolitan, she talked about a turning point in her career: “When I started competing in the National French Cup (Coupe de France), I was the only girl and there were 70 drivers. That's when I started to think about my career and everything after.” Lisa is a trailblazer for young female drivers and in 2022, she became the first female driver to win a race during the French Junior Karting Championship.
Emma Felbermayr
Sponsor: Audi
About: Emma is returning to F1 Academy in 2026. The 19-year-old from Austria finished 10th in points following her 2025 F1 Academy run, and family is a major part of her life: “I got into motorsports from my family. My brother is racing, my dad is racing, and my grandfather used to race, so it's in our blood. It's very cool to experience all the trackside activities with my family.”
Ava Dobson
Sponsor: American Express
About: Ava Dobson is making waves as one of America’s best up-and-coming competitors. In 2024, Dobson announced that she would make her debut at the 2024 GB4 Championship. During the race, she unfortunately suffered injuries due to a collision, but the following year, she returned to the same championship and won third. She also won the Top Female Driver prize during the same race. While racing, the 18-year-old said she keeps her head as clear as possible: “I don't really think about anything [while racing]. It's just a clear head. If I need to move forward, I just focus on that and zone out. Which sounds crazy, but it makes me focus better.”
Mathilda Paatz
Sponsor: Aston Martin
About: Meet Mathilda Paatz, a 17-year-old driver from Cologne, Germany representing Aston Martin. Paatz earned two wins in the 2025 E4 Championship with single-seating racing. “I got into racing through my dad. He's been very lovely throughout, and we share the same passion,” she told Cosmopolitan. “I'm still deciding whether I'm really good at racing. It's a path where you learn more every day. I think I'm doing a great job at where I'm at now.”
Kaylee Countryman
Sponsor: Haas
About: Kaylee Countryman started racing at the age of 12 and has never looked back. In her early days, she managed to earn several podiums in her hometown state of Arizona. Then in September 2025, Kaylee was invited to the F1 Academy Nacarra Collective Test in Spain. Countryman spent part of her childhood karting at a local park in her hometown. As she told Cosmopolitan, “The rest is history.”
