Paddock or Runway? Meet the Women Racers Rewriting the F1 Academy Dress Code
June 1, 2026
The 2026 Canadian Grand Prix just gave us a massive core memory, and honestly, the motorsport world will never be the same. If you thought Formula 1 was just about burning rubber and mechanical engineering, the iconic women racers of the F1 Academy are here to completely shatter that narrative. They aren’t just chasing podiums; they are serving high-fashion looks and redefining what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated sport.
Kickstarting the race weekend, Disney officially launched its Minnie Collective platform. Introduced by none other than F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff, the collaboration aims to celebrate a new generation of natural leaders who are unapologetically ambitious, confident, and chic. The grid instantly transformed into a style haven as drivers proudly sported pieces from the Disney x Formula 1 Academy collection, proving that women in motorsport are truly just getting started.
The Hype is Real: By The Numbers
Let’s be real—the grid is shifting, and the data backs it up. Since its inception in 2022, the F1 Academy has experienced explosive growth, now broadcasting in 160 territories and even scoring a highly anticipated Netflix documentary.
According to Formula 1’s 2025 Global Fan Survey, the female fanbase is skyrocketing:
- 3 in 4 new F1 fans are female.
- 42% of the 100,000 women surveyed actively follow the F1 Academy.
- 75% of young girls surveyed by LEGO think racing sounds thrilling.
- 52% of those girls can genuinely see themselves becoming women racers or F1 Academy drivers in the future.
With heavy-hitter brand collaborations like Hello Kitty and the arrival of the official LEGO Racing team on the 2026 grid, the commercial power of these athletes is undeniable. The paddock might still showcase heavy male commercialization, but the female presence in Canada was electric.
Inside the Lookbook: 5 F1 Academy Stars Defining Their Style
Five trailblazing women racers opened up about how they mix high-octane performance with personal glamour, off-track style, and future ambitions.
1. Doriane Pin (Mercedes)
For Doriane Pin, fashion and track strategy share the exact same DNA.
“I approach fashion and beauty in the same way as racing: it’s about expressing who I am while paying attention to the small things that make a difference. Style, to me, is another form of performance—it’s about feeling ready, sharp, and authentic.”
Doriane views the increased media attention on female drivers’ outfits as a major win. It’s an open invitation to show the world that you can be fiercely competitive while remaining completely true to your aesthetic.
- Shop Her Vibe: Adidas Adicolor 3-Stripes Slim Knit Track Top ($57) & Firebird Track Pants ($45).
2. Alba Larsen (Scuderia Ferrari)
Alba Larsen treats the racetrack like a battleground and the paddock like a runway. While her race suit acts as her armor on the track, her off-track style is an experimental playground filled with bold contrasts, streetwear, and elegant silhouettes. She loves adding precise accents like a killer sneaker or a delicate necklace.
Alba is manifest-ing a future grid that is 50% women purely on merit, and she even has ideas for redesigning the traditional racing suit to be more modular and feminine. When internet trolls tell her to “focus on racing” instead of fashion, she shuts it down instantly, noting that her brand partnerships are exactly what fund her racing career.
- Shop Her Vibe: Puma Speedcat OG Sneaker ($100).
3. Nina Gademan (Alpine)
Nina Gademan brings a down-to-earth, no-nonsense energy to the sport, blending elegance with a sporty edge. She acknowledges that female women racers face a lot more aesthetic scrutiny than men, but she sees it as a golden opportunity to display strength through style.
“When everything fits my vibe, that’s when I feel the most confident walking into the paddock. I want to see a paddock where style is seen as confidence, not a distraction.”
- Shop Her Vibe: Castore Alpine Racing Pullover Hoodie ($49) & Levi’s Blue Tab Shank Trucker Jacket ($99).
4. Rafaela Ferreira (Visa Cash App Racing Bulls)
Rafaela Ferreira openly admits that her style journey has been a major glow-up. While she started out not caring much about clothes, she now finds immense confidence in curation, makeup, and self-care. She’s a huge fan of Daniel Ricciardo’s Enchanté collection for bridging the gap between motorsport and casual street style.
For Rafaela, maintaining her femininity is essential: “I always say that I’m not there to be like the men, I’m there to be a woman who is just doing the same thing as a man.” She uses her social media to share everything from grueling gym sessions to raw, relatable life challenges.
- Shop Her Vibe: Enchanté Garage Script Tee ($55) & APL Nostalgia ’87 ($295).
5. Jade Jacquet (Atlassian Williams F1 Team)
While icons like Lewis Hamilton have paved the way for paddock fashion, Jade Jacquet keeps her style philosophy deeply practical, efficient, and authentic. For Jade, pure preparation is what actually drives confidence, both mentally and physically.
Looking forward, Jade wants to see extensive female representation across the board—not just behind the wheel, but in engineering rooms and executive leadership roles. She uses Instagram to display her true, unfiltered self, avoiding any digital persona that feels disconnected from her real-life grinding on the track.
- Shop Her Vibe: Asos Design Sculpting Halter Neck Crop Top ($38) & Atlassian Williams F1 Team Line Varsity Jacket ($200).
The Verdict
The women racers of the F1 Academy are proving that you never have to sacrifice your personal identity to dominate a sport. From Disney hoodies to customized street style, these athletes are paving a fast, fashionable lane for the next generation of girls watching from the grandstands. Stay tuned, because this fashion-forward racing revolution is just getting warmed up!
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