Meet our F1 ACADEMY™ driver: Esmee Kosterman

The F1 ACADEMY™ exists to champion the next generation of female motorsports talent, and we’re honored to partner with them to spread the word about their good work and pass on the passion to a whole new generation of Formula 1® fans. 

As part of this partnership, we will be represented on the F1 ACADEMY grid in the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season with our very own team, LEGO® Racing. And behind the wheel, we have a thrilling Dutch driver, Esmee Kosterman. 

We thought we’d introduce you to Esmee, tell you a little bit about her racing history and what this partnership means to her.  

So, suit up and let’s do a quick lap with our very first driver, Esmee Kosterman.

Say hoi to Dutch driver Esmee

Born and raised in the Netherlands, Esmee was prolific and successful on the kart racing circuit. In fact, in 2023, she became the first woman to win in the Ford Fiesta Sprint Cup series, before going on to finish second in the Junior Cup and third in the overall standings.

The following year, in 2024, Esmee moved into single seaters with Indian F4 and made her F1 ACADEMY debut as the Wild Card entry at Round 5 of the 2025 season in Zandvoort, her home racecourt. 

She was chosen to be our driver because she embodies the spirit of creativity and determination that we believe is at the heart of both the LEGO Group and F1 ACADEMY. 

Esmee has always loved LEGO sets, and being part of the team is a dream come true for her (and us!). 

“I’ve long been a fan of the LEGO Group,” she says. “It’s creativity and what it stands for, and to bring it to the track from the 2026 season onwards is incredible.”

And she is well aware that this partnership is groundbreaking. 

“To be the first driver for LEGO Racing is such an exciting opportunity, and I can’t wait to continue my racing journey with F1 ACADEMY,” she says.

A car to compete

In the 2026 season, Esmee will be driving a Tatuus T-421-F1A operated by MP Motorsport, a Dutch racing team with experience at the highest levels of performance driving, including the FIA Formula 2 Championship™ and the FIA Formula 3 Championship™. The car chassis will feature detailing by some of our talented designers, who have managed to combine the F1 ACADEMY and LEGO Group brand styles in a truly amazing way.  

And to further celebrate the partnership, we’ve even created a brand-new F1 ACADEMY set.

The LEGO® Speed Champions F1 ACADEMY LEGO® Race Car features many of the same details from the real car that Esmee will race in the F1 ACADEMY. You can build a car complete with a cockpit, rear wing and tires imprinted with ‘Pirelli’, and the set also includes a female F1 ACADEMY driver minifigure, who comes with a helmet and wrench. 

If you’re looking for a new set to inspire a young female fan (or any fan, for that matter) then this is the set for you.

Breaking down barriers

Our partnership with the F1 ACADEMY is about much more than racing. It’s a way to address historic imbalances and to provide opportunities for a whole new generation of drivers and engineers. 

It’s perfect timing too, as recent research has shown that 42% of the Formula 1 fanbase now consists of women, and additional research by the LEGO Group shows that 87% of girls surveyed would like to see more opportunities for girls in motorsports, 75% think racing sounds exciting, while 52% could see themselves as an F1 ACADEMY or race car driver one day.

We asked Esmee about what her hopes were for this partnership. 

“I hope this inspires future generations of female drivers, that with hard work and determination, anything is possible!”

We’re certain that it will.

We wish Esmee and the team the very best for the season. We hope that they find themselves taking the checkered flag and standing at the top of the podium. But, whatever happens, we know that this partnership is going to have an impact that lasts long after the race is over.