F1 Academy Partners with Lego for 2026 Season

The world’s most creative bricks are heading to the racetrack. The LEGO Group has announced a groundbreaking multi-year partnership with the F1 Academy, marking a powerful union between play, innovation, and progress in motorsport.

Unveiled on the eve of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the collaboration will see LEGO not only release an official F1 Academy car set, but also field a real car on the 2026 F1 Academy grid a first for the legendary Danish brand.

A New Star on the Grid

The LEGO Racing entry will be driven by Esmee Kosterman, a 20-year-old Dutch talent who made her F1 Academy debut earlier this year as a wildcard at her home race in Zandvoort. A former karting and Formula 4 racer, Kosterman will don LEGO’s vibrant new livery when the all-female series returns next season.

F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff and LEGO’s chief marketing officer Julia Goldin presented the partnership in Las Vegas, describing it as more than a sponsorship a statement of empowerment and imagination.

“We’re so proud to welcome the LEGO Group as an official partner of F1 Academy,” said Wolff. “This collaboration isn’t just about the possibility of building an F1 Academy LEGO car it’s about building belief in what’s possible.

We hope every young girl who picks up these bricks sees more than just a model she sees herself, her potential, and her place in motorsport.”

Building the Future, Brick by Brick

For LEGO, the partnership represents a new way to inspire creativity and inclusivity through play.

“F1 Academy is levelling the playing field in motorsport,” said Goldin. “We can’t wait to see LEGO Racing join the grid and are thrilled to have Esmee as our driver.

For the first time, fans can hold their favourite F1 Academy LEGO car in their hands and we’re proud to secure female representation in racing toys for young girls. We hope this inspires the next generation of female racers and builders alike.”

From Playroom to Pit Lane

As part of the deal, LEGO will release a 201-piece F1 Academy car set, available for pre-order now and launching globally in March 2026. The model will feature the LEGO Racing livery seen on Kosterman’s real-life car, allowing fans to recreate the spirit of the series at home.

The partnership continues F1 Academy’s mission to create meaningful pathways for women in motorsport — not just behind the wheel, but in engineering, design, and leadership.

A Shared Vision

Both LEGO and F1 Academy share a common goal: to show young people, especially girls, that there’s no limit to what they can build or achieve.

With LEGO Racing set to take its place on the 2026 grid, this collaboration is more than a marketing move it’s a symbol of creativity meeting competition, and play meeting purpose.

As Wolff put it: “Together, we’re challenging outdated perceptions of who belongs in motorsport and empowering the next generation to build their own path, one brick at a time.”

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Written by

James Rees

A passionate motorsport journalist from Wales, with over 30 years of love for the sport. A dedicated father of three, working as a content manager, covering the fast-paced world of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula E, and IndyCar.

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