The iconic Prancing Horse has added fresh firepower to its stable. Scuderia Ferrari on Thursday confirmed that 16-year-old Danish prospect Alba Larsen will step up to the team’s F1 Academy programme for the 2026 season, marking a major milestone in the rising star’s rapid ascent through the junior ranks.
Larsen, already a member of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA), will swap her rookie livery for the legendary Rosso Corsa, signalling Ferrari’s continued commitment to nurturing next-generation motorsport talent.
A Storming Rise Through the Ranks
Larsen’s journey from pandemic-era karting to one of the most coveted junior seats in global motorsport has been nothing short of remarkable. She burst onto the scene in 2023 by winning the Senior category of the FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme — a global search conducted with the FDA that launched her into single-seaters.
Her rookie 2025 campaign in F1 Academy showcased both maturity and promise. Finishing seventh overall, the Dane delivered seven top-five finishes and scored points in ten races. Her standout results — a pair of fourth-place finishes at Shanghai and Las Vegas — underlined her raw pace and composure on two of the calendar’s most demanding circuits.
“Racing for Ferrari in F1 Academy is a dream come true,” Larsen said after the announcement. “I’ve supported Ferrari since I was a kid, so wearing red feels surreal and incredibly special. I’m ready to give everything for the Scuderia. Bet on red!”
A Heavy Workload and High Expectations
Ferrari’s decision reflects long-term belief in Larsen’s potential. To accelerate her development, the teenager will maintain an exceptionally busy calendar. Alongside the F1 Academy season, she will compete in the F4 UAE Championship during the winter and return for a second year of racing in British F4.
Guided by veteran Formula 1 driver and compatriot Kevin Magnussen, Larsen has built a foundation of resilience and race intelligence that Ferrari hopes to transform into elite performance.
Her signing also marks a win for the FIA’s Rising Stars initiative, reinforcing its reputation as a genuine pathway for women seeking to break into top-tier motorsport.
With Ferrari’s support and a packed 2026 racing programme ahead, Alba Larsen stands poised for the most important year of her young career — one that could define her trajectory toward Formula 1.
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