Gatorade partners with F1 ACADEMY rookie driver Lisa Billard for 2026 season

Gatorade has today announced its sponsorship of F1 ACADEMY rookie driver Lisa Billard, marking its mission to make performance support accessible.

Lisa Billard, viewed as one of the sport’s new rising talents, has shown impressive potential at just 16 years of age. She became the Women’s Champion at the 2025 French F4 Championship at Le Mans, and the first female to win a race in the French Junior Karting Championship, earning her a Wild Card entry for Round 6 of the F1 ACADEMY season in Singapore.

This partnership underlines Gatorade's ‘Fuel Tomorrow’ commitment to supporting young people's participation in sport, amplifying the voices of young female athletes and fuelling their performance through science-driven hydration, nutrition, and resources. Crucially, it leverages the expertise of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) to generate invaluable insights into the specific hydration needs of young women, to feel confident, empowered, and fully optimised for success.

Gatorade will be supporting Billard with elite-level sweat testing, tailored hydration and nutrition plans, and recovery protocols. In January, Lisa will join Gatorade at the GSSI lab on the IMG Academy campus for a three-day performance immersion, setting a strong foundation for the start of her F1 ACADEMY journey.

Women’s sports are at an inflection point – culturally and commercially. Fans are showing up, brands are investing, and athletes are breaking barriers. But female athletes often receive performance support later than men, missing out on formative years that help shape careers.

New Gatorade research reveals that while 58% of women recognise unique physiological needs, only 38% believe female athletes receive equal attention, and just 28% of girls aged 14–25 feel confident fuelling their bodies for performance. While hydration needs shift across life stages, ultimately only half of women feel informed.

This is true even for elite and retired athletes. 90% said they had to guess their hydration and nutritional requirements and 70% only received credible expert advice or learned about female-specific needs after turning professional, emphasising insufficient early support for women.

F1 ACADEMY Gatorade driver, Lisa Billard, said: “Single-seater racing pushes your body to the limit. You can lose up to 4kg of fluid, burn huge amounts of calories, and race in hot temperatures. So, working with a brand like Gatorade and GSSI to understand my hydration and recovery couldn’t be more important. I’m so excited to take on my first season of F1 ACADEMY in 2026, with the support of Gatorade behind me.”

Erick Scheel, President of PepsiCo Latin America Beverages, added: "We are setting a precedent for young female athlete support and showcasing how when athletes get the right resources at the right time, everything changes. This partnership exemplifies the Gatorade ‘Is It In You?’ philosophy: to spark performance by leverage our knowledge and understanding of the science of hydration. By ensuring Lisa has access to science-backed resources and tailored performance support at this pivotal stage of her career, we're empowering her to reach her potential and inspire the next generation."

Gatorade is also an Official Partner of F1 ACADEMY for the 2026 season and beyond, supporting its overarching mission to increase female participation of women in motorsport, both on and off the track.