Lego car enters the F1 Academy in 2026 with Dutch driver Esmee Kosterman
Lego announces a multi-year partnership with F1 Academy and will have its own car in the 2026 season. The announcement took place this Wednesday (19) during the Las Vegas GP, in the Estados Unidos. The Danish brand becomes an official partner of the Fórmula 1 women’s only category.
The vehicle will have yellow, pink, blue and black colors and will be driven by the Dutch company Esmee Kosterman. Lego will also sell an official set of the car for assembly. The initiative seeks to encourage girls to become interested in motorsport from an early age.
The Lego Racing team will compete alongside cars supported by the ten Fórmula 1 teams and the new Cadillac, which debuts in 2026.
New car hits the grid in 2026
The partnership was revealed a year after Lego’s global agreement with Fórmula 1, signed at the 2024 Las Vegas GP. The F1 Academy car will be the first physical product of the specific collaboration with the women’s series.
Esmee Kosterman has been confirmed as the starting driver for the Lego Racing team. The Dutchwoman already competes in youth categories and will now have direct support from the Danish brand.
The model will have an exclusive design with a predominance of yellow and details in pink, blue and black. The painting follows the visual pattern already used by Lego in previous activations on Fórmula 1.
Building set will be sold to the public
Lego will produce and sell the complete Academy F1 car kit. The product will hit stores next year, along with the start of the 2026 season.
The company highlights that the toy represents opportunity and female representation in motorsport. The objective is to show girls that they can occupy spaces in sport, whether as pilots, engineers or leaders.
Susie Wolff, managing director of F1 Academy, said the partnership goes beyond the racing car. The focus is on building confidence in young women to pursue careers in motorsport.
Previous activations strengthened the bond
Lego has already carried out major actions in Fórmula 1 since the global agreement. This year’s No GP of Miami, full-size cars made from Lego parts paraded with drivers.
At the 2025 Grã-Britain GP, the winner’s trophy was built entirely from the brand’s blocks. As activations reinforced the company’s visual presence in the paddock.
Entry into F1 Academy marks Lego’s first step as a competing team. The car will compete in all stages of the championship from 2026 onwards.
Female representation gains prominence
Julia Goldin, director of product and marketing at Lego, highlighted the role of F1 Academy in equalizing opportunities in sport. The executive celebrated the choice of Esmee Kosterman as a pilot.
The building set will be the brand’s first racing toy with clear female representation. The company hopes to inspire girls to see real possibilities in motorsport.
The multi-year partnership foresees other joint activations in the coming years. Additional Detalhes sponsorships and events will be announced at a later date.
Calendar maintains seven stages in 2026
The 2026 F1 Academy season will have seven races, all as support events for Fórmula 1. The grid will feature 16 drivers, including representatives of the official teams.
Cadillac joins as a new supporter and will have its own car in the championship. Lego Racing occupies an independent position as the official partner of the series.
The category will complete four seasons in 2026 since its launch in 2023. The number of female pilots trained for higher categories has been increasing year by year.
