The Prancing Horse Calls: Alba Larsen Suits Up in Red for 2026
There is a moment in every young racer’s life where the dream suddenly gets very, very real. For Alba Larsen, that moment arrived this week with the confirmation that she will be suiting up in the iconic Rosso Corsa of Scuderia Ferrari for the 2026 F1 Academy campaign. It’s a massive step up for the 16-year-old Danish driver.
After cutting her teeth in her rookie season under the Tommy Hilfiger banner, Larsen is trading stripes for the Prancing Horse. This isn’t just a sponsorship deal. It’s an induction into arguably the most pressurized and prestigious heritage in motorsport history. When you put on that red suit, you aren’t just racing for yourself anymore you’re racing for Maranello.
Larsen Looks To Capitalize On A Strong Rookie Foundation
Looking back at the tape from last season, the move makes perfect sense for the Italian squad. Larsen didn’t just show up. She showed consistency, a trait that team principals value above almost anything else in development series. During her debut run, Larsen managed to park her car in the top five on seven different occasions.
That kind of reliability is hard to teach. She was knocking on the door of the podium multiple times, securing personal-best fourth-place finishes at two of the most technically demanding circuits on the calendar: the tight, unforgiving complexities of Shanghai and the high-speed, concrete-canyon streets of Las Vegas.
Finishing seventh in the overall standings is a respectable baseline, but now the expectations shift. The “rookie curve” is gone. Entering her sophomore year, the paddock will be watching to see if Larsen can convert those fourth-place finishes into hardware. The raw speed is there, but 2026 will be about finding that extra tenth of a second in qualifying to ensure she starts where she needs to finish.
The Path From “Rising Star” To Ferrari Prospect
The trajectory for Larsen has been pointing upward for a while now. You can trace this momentum back to 2023, where she dominated the Senior category of the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars program. That program has become a legitimate pipeline for talent, and Larsen is the latest proof of concept.
Her performance there led to a two-round stint in the 2024 Indian F4 Championship, where she didn’t waste time getting up to speed, scoring points in her debut in single-seaters. It was enough to catch the eye of the scouts in red. She was officially signed to the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy back in August, signaling that the team saw her as a long-term investment rather than a flash in the pan.
No Off-Season For The Danish Contender
One thing veteran race fans love to see is a driver who refuses to get out of the cockpit. There is no substitute for seat time. While some drivers might take the winter off to focus on simulator work, Larsen is taking the old-school approach: more racing.Before the lights go out for the 2026 F1 Academy season, Larsen will be keeping her reflexes sharp by competing in the F4 UAE Championship over the winter break.
Following that, she is set to embark on a second campaign in British F4. By the time she arrives on the grid for her primary campaign with Ferrari, she will have logged serious competitive mileage. That winter workload is often the differentiator between drivers who start slow and those who hit the ground running at Round 1.
A Dream Realized For Larsen
For the driver herself, the emotion is palpable. In a sport often defined by cold data and telemetry, the human element of signing with a childhood hero team is undeniable. “Racing for Ferrari in F1 ACADEMY is a dream come true,” Larsen said regarding the announcement. “They’ve been my favorite team since I was a child and getting to wear red feels surreal and is an incredible honor.”
She noted that the support from the team has been evident since her days in the Rising Stars program. Now, the goal is simple: repay that faith with results. “I’ve felt their support since FIA Girls on Track and now being part of the most iconic team in motorsport is a true honor,” she added. “I’m ready to give everything I have for the Scuderia. Bet on red!”
Final Thoughts
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a defining year for the young Dane. The rookie jitters are gone. The tracks are familiar. And now, she has the full force of Maranello behind her. For Alba Larsen, the time for learning is over. Now, it’s time to race for the win.
