F1 Academy has sparked fresh debate ahead of the 2026 season after its official X account published a fan poll asking followers to predict who will win the upcoming championship.
The poll quickly gained traction across the motorsport community, reflecting growing interest in the all-female series and its emerging generation of young talent backed by major Formula 1 teams.
According to the results, Ferrari-backed driver Alba Larsen was chosen as the clear favourite for the 2026 title, securing 30% of the vote and placing her ahead of her closest rivals.
Behind the Ferrari Driver Academy member in the standings of fan expectations was Red Bull-supported driver Alisha Palmowski, who continues to build strong momentum as one of the standout names within the junior single-seater ladder.
Mercedes representative Emma Felbermayr completed the top three in the poll, underlining the competitive balance between the top F1-backed academy programmes heading into the new season.
While fan polls do not directly predict on-track outcomes, they often reflect perceived form, driver development trajectories, and the strength of academy structures supporting each competitor.
The result also highlights the increasing visibility of F1 Academy drivers, many of whom are now gaining recognition well beyond the junior categories thanks to their links with Formula 1 teams and growing media exposure.
With the 2026 season continues, expectations are rising around this new generation of talent, and early fan sentiment suggests a tightly contested championship battle could be on the horizon.
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