F1 Academy is preparing for a fresh appearance on the streaming stage, with Disney+ set to release a new documentary exploring the lives, ambitions and challenges of the drivers competing in the all-female championship. The Pursuit: F1 Academy will premiere exclusively on 19 November 2026, bringing Susie Wolff’s racing series back to a major streaming platform following the cancellation of its previous Netflix docuseries.
The production, developed in collaboration with ESPN, will arrive around the Las Vegas Grand Prix and feature several of the category’s leading names, including Ferrari-backed Maya Weug, Mercedes representative Doriane Pin and 2026 champion Alisha Palmowski. Unlike a programme focused exclusively on race results, the documentary aims to reveal the personal sacrifices, competitive pressure and experiences away from the circuit that define the journey of young women pursuing careers in motorsport.
Disney+ brings F1 Academy documentary back to the spotlight
The Pursuit: F1 Academy forms part of Fuel the Magic, a multi-year collaboration involving Disney, Formula 1 and F1 Academy. The initiative is designed to connect the championship with a broader audience while highlighting the opportunities and challenges facing female racing drivers.
Following the cancellation of the previous Netflix series, the move to Disney+ provides another platform for the championship’s competitors and the people responsible for its development.
Filmed throughout the 2025 F1 Academy season, the documentary follows the championship across different race weekends. Viewers will see how drivers navigate the demands of competition, alongside the experiences that unfold away from the cameras normally focused on the racing itself.
The production also examines the teams and senior figures helping shape the category, including F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff. Her involvement places the championship’s wider ambitions alongside the individual stories of the competitors.
Ferrari’s Maya Weug features alongside F1 Academy champions
One of the prominent drivers featured is Maya Weug, who represented Ferrari during the 2025 F1 Academy championship and finished the season as runner-up. Her participation gives Ferrari supporters another opportunity to follow the journey of a driver closely associated with the Maranello manufacturer’s development programme.
The documentary will also feature Doriane Pin, the Mercedes-backed driver who won the 2025 championship, together with returning competitor Chloe Chambers, representing Red Bull Ford, and Red Bull-supported Alisha Palmowski, who secured the 2026 title.
By including competitors at different stages of their development, the production brings together established champions, leading contenders and drivers continuing their pursuit of success in single-seater racing.
Maya Weug’s involvement is particularly relevant given the attention surrounding the challenges facing the Ferrari-backed driver after F1 Academy. Her experience illustrates the importance of the career opportunities available to young competitors once their time in the all-female championship comes to an end.
Ferrari has continued its involvement in the category, with Alba Larsen taking over the team’s F1 Academy entry for 2026 following Maya Weug’s departure from the championship.
Susie Wolff explains the ambitions behind the new Disney+ documentary
Susie Wolff has emphasised that every competitor on the F1 Academy grid is working towards an ambitious personal goal, with the documentary intended to demonstrate what pursuing that dream involves.
According to the managing director, the production will explore the sacrifices, obstacles and achievements experienced by the drivers both during race weekends and away from the track. She believes these personal experiences deserve greater attention alongside their performances in competition.
Wolff also highlighted the opportunity provided by Disney+ to introduce those stories to an international audience. Her ambition is for the documentary to connect with people beyond the motorsport community and encourage young women to pursue their goals with determination, even when confronted by difficulties.
The partnership between F1 Academy and Disney was initially presented at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, before another initiative followed during the Canadian Grand Prix.
At that event, Disney characters Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck were involved in activities promoting self-confidence and female representation. The collaboration also aimed to encourage the next generation of women to consider opportunities in motorsport.
Those initiatives form part of the broader relationship between Disney, Formula 1 and F1 Academy, combining entertainment with the championship’s efforts to increase visibility for female competitors.
When will The Pursuit: F1 Academy be released on Disney+?
The Pursuit: F1 Academy is scheduled to premiere exclusively on Disney+ on Thursday, 19 November 2026, shortly before the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.
The timing places the documentary alongside one of Formula 1’s major international events, providing an opportunity to introduce the all-female championship to viewers following the wider sport.
Fans preparing for the race weekend can also consult the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix schedule and European start times, with Formula 1 returning to Nevada as the season approaches its conclusion.
For F1 Academy, the documentary represents another opportunity to showcase the drivers and their ambitions to a wider audience. With Ferrari-linked Maya Weug among those featured and Susie Wolff helping guide the championship’s development, the Disney+ production will offer a closer look at the personal stories behind the competition and the determination required to pursue a future in racing.
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