LEGO Racing Joins F1 ACADEMY Grid, Esmee Kosterman to Drive in Historic Partnership

LEGO Racing Joins the F1 ACADEMY Grid with Esmee Kosterman as Driver

LEGO Racing will debut on the F1 ACADEMY grid starting the 2026 season with Dutch driver Esmee Kosterman behind the wheel. This multi-year partnership between the LEGO Group and F1 ACADEMY aims to inspire young fans, especially girls, by combining the thrill of motorsport with creative play.

Esmee Kosterman, 20, brings an impressive racing background to the team. She made history as the first woman to win in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup series last year and recently debuted in F1 ACADEMY as a Wild Card entrant at Zandvoort. Kosterman will serve as LEGO Racing’s premiere driver in her first full season.

The LEGO Racing car sports a unique livery designed by the LEGO Design team. The vehicle’s paint scheme merges high-performance motorsport aesthetics with playful LEGO brick motifs, featuring a distinct checkered pattern. This design symbolizes the collaboration’s goal of blending racing excitement with creativity.

As motorsport continues attracting younger and more diverse audiences, this partnership highlights a growing focus on female representation. Research commissioned by LEGO reveals that 87% of girls want more motorsport opportunities for females, while over half envision themselves as race car drivers in the future. Yet, many parents and children perceive racing as a male-dominated sport.

Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 ACADEMY, emphasizes the partnership’s mission. She states it’s about “building belief in what’s possible” for young girls who explore motorsport as fans, engineers, or drivers. Julia Goldin of the LEGO Group highlights that F1 ACADEMY “levels the playing field,” enabling female athletes to pursue top-tier racing careers and inspiring future builders.

Fans can pre-order the LEGO Speed Champions F1 ACADEMY Race Car, a detailed 201-piece set that replicates Kosterman’s car with aerodynamic elements and the #32 racing number. This set, accompanied by a LEGO Racing minifigure, will be available starting March next year, allowing supporters to bring the excitement of F1 ACADEMY into their homes.

In celebrating talent at the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, LEGO also presents podium finishers with custom LEGO Botanical Bouquets built from nearly 2,000 bricks. This innovative collaboration captures the shared vision of empowering the next generation of female motorsport enthusiasts through both track and play.