10 Female Drivers to Watch in 2026
From F1 Academy to the NHRA and Off-Road Racing, these are ten of the women you should keep an eye on throughout 2026.
With 2026 firmly underway, it can be a challenge to keep track of every single motorsport series taking place around the globe - and who to pay attention to in each of them. That is especially true when you look just outside of some of the more mainstream racing series, where there is some truly epic action taking place as remarkable motorsport stories begin to unfold.
Today is also International Women’s Day, so it’s the perfect time to set you up with a list of ten drivers from across the motorsport landscape that you should watch out for as the rest of the year goes on - and why.
Let’s take a look.
10 Female Drivers to Watch in 2026
Hedda Hosås
Norwegian-born Hedda Hosås has been slowly but surely making a name for herself in the world of motorsport over the last few years. Catching the eye of Veloce Racing’s Ian Davies, he signed her as the team’s reserve driver for the 2021 Extreme E Season. In 2022, she switched over to JBXE, finishing on the podium on her debut in Sardinia.
Fast forward to 2026, and Hedda has competed in three seasons of Extreme E, gotten more experience under her belt in other off-road competitions, finished in P3 in the Extreme H World Cup, and earlier this year, won the Baja Jordan in the SSV Category.
Her raw speed, off-road abilities, attention to detail and delivering quality results, both when it comes to her racing and keeping her sponsors happy, are exhilarating to watch. When all of this is combined with her infectious trademark smile, Hedda becomes an easy driver to root for in any event. There’s something truly special about her that can only be explained by watching her race, and that’s what makes her one to watch in 2026.
Nina Gademan
After combining years of karting with building her own unique brand off track, Nina Gademan blended together the world of motorsport and content creation in a unique way. Signed by Veloce Racing (small world) as one of their content creators, Nina got the chance to test an F4 car at Snetterton. This translated to a full-time seat for the 2024 season. While not finishing in any points-paying positions overall, Nina did still manage to get points on the board. This was thanks to points being awarded in British F4 for overtakes made on track during a race – something that Nina proved to be rather good at. She notched up twenty five points over the season in this way, further backing up the tagline on her Instagram account: “I don’t chase boys, I pass them.”
Last year, she made her full-time F1 Academy debut after having joined the series in 2024 as a Wild Card Driver at her home event in Zandvoort. She finished the year in P6 overall with four podiums to her name. This included a win on home soil - an incredibly satisfying full circle moment from one year earlier.
Switching to MP Motorsport from PREMA in 2026 but still backed by the Alpine Formula 1 team, Nina enters the 2026 season as one of the favourites for the title. Is Nina the next Dutch Superstar? You wouldn’t want to write her off.
Isabella Abreu
If you don’t know who Isabella Abreu is, then now is the perfect chance to correct that. Born in Cuba but now based in Miami, Isabella is a one-woman team determined to be a contender for the ultimate underdog of motorsport. Having competed in Spec Miatas and the JSF4 Series in the United States, Isabella will make history in 2026.
That’s because she’ll become not only the first female Cuban but the first Cuban in history to compete in single-seater racing in Europe as she enters the FFSA Championship. Competing in a series aimed at both developing drivers and ensuring they get to showcase their racing abilities to everyone across the continent, it’s a smart move from the Cuban.
Isabella has also been instrumental behind the scenes in the founding and development of the South East Formula Series, based in Miami. All of this comes across as a brilliant foundation for a star of the future, the Hollywood script for which writes itself. With a backstory like this, how can Isabella not be one to watch in 2026?
Abbi Pulling
The 2024 F1 Academy Champion, which she won in a brutally dominant fashion, moved over to the GB3 Championship in 2025. She finished in P10 overall, which included a trip to the podium for her third-place finish at Brands Hatch. This result also marked the first time since GB3 began back in 2021 that a female driver has stepped onto the podium in the category. It’s a series that she’ll return to this year with Rodin Motorsport with the ambition to finish further inside that top ten.
Abbi is also a rookie and simulator driver for the Nissan Formula E Team. As part of this, she’s already been able to take part in two of the women’s tests held by the all-electric Championship. Moreover, earlier this year in Miami, she also fulfilled her duties for the team in the rookie practice session held in Miami.
As a driver who’s always had to fight hard for every opportunity to go racing, many believe that she’ll be the first female driver in Formula 3 since Sophia Flörsch. That’s why so many eyes will be on her in 2026 as she does everything in her power to turn that dream into a reality.
Toni Breidinger
After finishing in P4 overall in the ARCA Menards Series last year, Toni moved up into the Truck Series in 2025. In her rookie season, she finished in P23 overall with a highest finish of P18.
Following her first full season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2025, Toni Breidinger returns for a part-time season in 2026 with Rackley W.A.R. At the time of writing, the plan is to compete in eight races this season, but with the door always open for more.
That’s where her 2.4 million Instagram followers and her 2.3 million followers on TikTok enter the picture. That, combined with being a model, having appeared in publications such as GQ and Sports Illustrated, means that people across the globe know who Toni is, which helps to open doors for her that might otherwise remain shut.
This, in turn, should help her get more of the resources she needs to ultimately keep racing. Much like with Nina and Bianca on this list, an alternate path to success in motorsport is being explored and developed. With an ever-growing focus on women in motorsport and an expectation of nothing less than excellent results, it’ll be fascinating to watch Toni’s season unfold both on and off track.
Bianca Bustamante
Another driver on this list who also competed in both W Series and F1 Academy, Bianca Bustamante is a household name. In 2025, she raced alongside Abbi Pulling in GB3, gaining valuable experience across the season. This year, the Filipino has signed with Palou Motorsport to compete in the Euro-Cup 3 Series. It’s a highly competitive championship that has seen drivers graduate directly into Formula 3 following their success in the series.
As a social media sensation, having built a following of 2 million on Instagram alone, Bianca is utilising her strengths to keep forging a path in the ruthless motorsport landscape. Following this non-traditional path makes watching her journey in 2026 that much more fascinating, and it is one that other young aspiring drivers will be watching with great interest as they work to follow in her footsteps.
Ida Zetterström
The 2023 FIA European Top Fuel Champion moved to the United States of America a couple of years ago to take on the challenge that is the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). In 2024, Ida was named Best New Pro Talent as part of the NHRA National Dragster All-star Team. Last year, she built on her success and experience to date and reached a career-first NHRA final round in St. Louis.
In 2026, Ida will be teaming up with Shawn Reed Racing as she continues to compete to become Champion. It’s the next logical step in an already impressive career, which includes being the Super Street Bike Scandinavian Champion in 2019 and 2020. The Swedish-born driver isn’t interested in just being a one-time Champion either - she’s confessed to wanting to win multiple titles and create lasting change in the sport.
2026 is geared up to be Ida’s biggest year in the NHRA yet, and she’s not someone to underestimate.
Nerea Martí
Following two incredibly consistent years in F1 Academy (she finished in fourth place overall in both seasons), Nerea switched things up in 2025. Competing for BMW Promotion Motorsport, she raced in the Supercars Endurance Series, winning two races and finishing in fifth overall.
This year, Nerea’s evolved again and, this time, it’s by joining the E1 Series. Partnered with Canadian athlete Rusty Wyatt and racing for Team AlUla (championed by Lebron James), Nerea is proving to be a chameleon when it comes to racing. On debut in Saudi Arabia, she finished on the podium in third place. This versatility and skill behind the wheel of whatever she gets into is impressive and what makes Nerea such an exciting prospect to watch as the rest of 2026 unfolds.
Alba Larsen
After a foundation in racing, which included karting and competing in the Indian Racing League, Alba Larsen moved into the F1 Academy for her rookie season in 2025. Supported by Tommy Hilfiger and racing for MP Motorsport, she finished in P7 overall. The then sixteen-year-old got close to the podium on several occasions and scored points in all but four races. Now backed by the Ferrari Formula 1 Team (and part of the Ferrari Driver Academy), Alba will be looking to build on her strong debut season.
Off-track, she’s also been working hard to keep a constant presence in the public eye - something that is becoming more and more crucial in a social media-dominated age. An example of this has been the founding of the Girls International Racing Lab, which aims to make it easier for girls to try their hand in motorsport and to get 15,000 to take part in G.I.R.L activities, such as the recent karting session in Dubai, in 2026.
Now seventeen years old, many are looking at Alba and her growing high-level status among up-and-coming drivers and believe that she’ll make it to Formula 3 - and possibly beyond - within the next few years.
Luna Fluxa
In 2022, when she was just eleven years old, Luna Fluxa was signed by the Mercedes Junior Team, immediately highlighting the potential that the German giant sees in her. Having been karting in her entire racing career so far, she raced in OK Karts in the 2024-2025 season. Luna became only the fifth woman in history to win a senior international karting title, competing for PREMA in the process.
In 2026, Luna has made the step up into single-seater racing as she drives for Campos Racing in the Spanish F4 Championship. On debut in Portimao, Luna already racked up her first podium result with a P2 finish in the second race of the weekend. Having been on people’s radars for the last few years, this year will be Luna’s biggest yet - and she’s already proving it.