British racer Jessica Edgar moves from GB4 to F1 Academy and becomes Rodin Carlin's first signing for the all-female championship.
The announcements of the new F1 Academy championship, which is aimed to create a new pathway for young female drivers at Formula 4 level up the single-seater ladder, continue to come in rapid succession, thus going to outline what will be the starting grid of the inaugural season. Léna Bühler was first announced at ART Grand Prix, becoming the first ever driver to land a seat in the new series managed by Bruno Michel and created by Formula 1. 18-year-old Filipina Bianca Bustamante followed, slotting in one of the Prema Racing seats – and today Jessica Edgar is confirmed at Rodin Carlin. “I’m very happy to have signed with Rodin Carlin for F1 Academy. As soon as I heard about the series; the backing of Formula One and the teams and people involved I was extremely keen to be part of this first historic season. I know the Rodin Carlin team pretty well and to go into this first season together is a dream come true. I’m really excited to get the season underway.” Edgar, 17, is the youngest driver signed thus far and will join the highly-competitive British team in what will be only her second season in single seaters.
Coming from a racing family with a karting pedigree, Jessica is also cousin of FIA F3 racer Jonny.
Jessica herself started karting at 6 and moved up the ranks of the Mini X30 categories. In 2021 she was part of the Girls on Track Rising Stars program, and then graduated to race cars in 2022, as part of the inaugural season of the GB4 Championship.
Edgar was a consistent presence in the top-ten, claimed a podium at Oulton Park in only her second round, and – after a big development through the season – she secured several top five finishes.
Having driven the Tatuus first gen F4 car in GB4, Edgar will now tackle the second gen F4 car used in the upcoming F1 Academy championship with Autotecnica engine and Pirelli tyres – but will rely on the expertise of top British team Carlin, which emerged as the team's champion in the 2022 British F4 , in the first year of the Tatuus T-421 car in the series.
“We’re very proud to announce our first driver in F1 Academy ahead of what we expect to be an exciting and historic season" – Team Principal Stephanie Carlin added.
"Jess was already well known to us, and the opportunity to work with her in F1 Academy came at exactly the right time in her career."
"With only one season in car racing to her name, there is still plenty to learn, but Jess is extremely motivated and we look forward to unlocking her potential in the season ahead.”
The new F1 Academy series will include five of the best feeder series teams on the F1 ladder. The format of the new F1 Academy will grant increased track-time to the drivers, with a 7-event calendar featuring triple headers, as well as at least 15 official test days.