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F1 Academy has confirmed that Alexia Danielsson and Zoe Florescu will participate in the 2026 Rookie Test at Circuito de Navarra in Spain this September.
The test returns after the success of last year’s edition, giving two drivers with contrasting levels of F1 Academy experience an opportunity to demonstrate their potential. Florescu is already known to the championship’s audience, while Danielsson arrives as a developing prospect from the F4 scene.
Florescu represented Hitech as the Wild Card driver at the F1 Academy Dutch Grand Prix. Although the Romanian driver did not score points, she made a strong impression during her time at Zandvoort. She completed her first qualifying session in seventh position before being disqualified for a breach of the Technical Regulations.
That result was ultimately removed from the classification, but her qualifying performance underlined the pace she was able to produce on her F1 Academy debut. Her appearance also provides useful competitive context ahead of the Rookie Test, where she will have another opportunity to show what she can deliver in the series environment. F1 Academy’s recent Zandvoort action can be followed in our report on Alisha Palmowski’s Feature Race victory.
Danielsson represents a newer name on the F1 Academy pathway. The Swedish driver competes in the F4 Cez Championship and is also an F4 development driver for More Than Equal.
Her selection places her alongside Florescu in a test designed to assess drivers who could become future F1 Academy competitors. In total, 18 drivers with significant potential for a future in the championship have been selected for the Rookie Test.
The selected drivers will also take part in the Rookie Training Camp, a new initiative developed in partnership with Loughborough University. The three-day camp will be held in August, ahead of the on-track test in September.
The revised format gives the drivers preparation time before they reach Circuito de Navarra. For Danielsson, it will mark an important step in her progression from F4 development work. For Florescu, it offers a chance to build on the promise shown during her Wild Card appearance.
With 18 prospects involved, the Rookie Test will provide F1 Academy with a broader view of the talent seeking a place in the championship. Danielsson and Florescu will be among the drivers under particular scrutiny when the programme moves from training to track running in Spain.
Ciara is a Dublin native, award-winning film producer, podcaster and writer with 20 years of storytelling experience. A lifelong Leinster and Ireland rugby fan, she turned her attention to the grid after moving to Berlin and co-founding Formula Live Pulse. Now, she applies her producer’s brain to Formula 1, navigating the highs of Oscar Piastri’s rise and the unique stress of being an adopted Ferrari fan. She loves talking and talking about F1, if you give her the chance!