F1 Academy is the category 100% dedicated to female drivers, created by Formula 1 in order to highlight female talent in motorsport. Specifically, it will focus on giving visibility and development to female single-seater driving specialists, with the aim of gaining experience and improving in order to continue climbing the career ladder.
To this end, the single-seater to be used will be of extreme importance, since, as in all motor racing, the car is key to show the potential of the drivers, and above all, to place them in a privileged position in the fight for podiums, victories and championships.
In that sense, the F1 Academy management has selected the Tatuus T421 chassis, a car that, according to Pierre-Alain Michot, deputy technical director of the series, meets all the needs of the category in terms of safety, technology and technical specifications, so that the drivers can reach an optimal level of competition.
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Tatuus T421 Features
The weight is around 585 kilograms including driver, it will use Pirelli tires custom-designed for the F1 Academy, where only one compound will be available for the participating teams. It generates 240 kilometers per hour at top speed, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, while from 0 to 200 km/h does the same in 12.5 seconds.
In addition, it has a maximum braking deceleration of -1.5 G and lateral acceleration of up to +/- 2.0 G. On the other hand, the design criteria has been aerodynamically thought to favor overtaking, coupled to the safety rules of the FIA F4 2021, anti-intrusion panels, crash test and halo, for the protection and safety of the pilots.
On the other hand, the technological section has been designed to match the performance in relation to the production cost. Also, composite materials have been used and it brings with it sequential gearbox, electric gear shift system and as a main element, a 1.4-liter V4 engine that generates 174 hp at 5,500 rpm.
“We want to make sure the drivers can maximize their time on the track and make maintenance easier for the teams. The car is affordable for the teams and therefore also for the female drivers. This ensures that they can compete in this category. We expect female kart racers to come to the F1 Academy to make sure they learn the race car properly before progress is crucial. This car is ideal in that respect,” says Pierre-Alain Michot.
Written by | Ronald Ortega
