Australia’s dream of seeing a female Formula One driver is gaining momentum, with two young Aussie racers securing spots in the prestigious F1 Academy for the 2025 season.
Aiva Anagnostiadis, 18, was the first Australian announced to be at the academy and will be behind the wheel of the TAG Heuer-sponsored car. Of Greek heritage, Anagnostiadis has been racing since she was six and finished 10th in the Indian F4 Championship last year. To further pursue her F1 dreams, her family relocated to London in 2023, where her younger brother Josh is now part of the Mercedes Junior Program.
Joining her is 16-year-old Joanne Ciconte, the youngest driver in the academy. Despite being eligible for her learner’s permit in Australia, she has been too busy racing on the world’s most iconic tracks, hitting speeds over 245 km/h since she was 15. Ciconte impressed Ferrari F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella at the 2023 FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars Program, leading to mentorship from Pro Racing Motorsport. She has since competed in the Spanish F4 Championship and the Central European Zone Championship, with plans to continue racing alongside the F1 Academy.
Established in 2023 to address gender disparity in motorsport, the all-female F1 Academy follows the Formula One calendar, featuring 14 races across seven rounds. Each of the 10 F1 teams supports one of the 18 academy drivers, with their cars decked out in the team’s livery.
Both Anagnostiadis and Ciconte are determined to advance Australian women’s motorsport, with Ciconte aiming to become the country’s first female F1 driver.
The F1 Academy season kicks off on March 21 in Shanghai.