The Pursuit: F1 ACADEMY gets a Disney+ release date
F1 Academy and Disney announced on 22 October that documentary special The Pursuit: F1 ACADEMY will debut exclusively on Disney+ globally on 19 November 2026. The production goes behind the scenes of the women’s championship’s 2025 season and will also arrive on the ESPN App later this year. The announcement comes ahead of the United States Grand Prix, while the premiere falls at the beginning of Formula 1’s Las Vegas weekend, taking place from 19 to 21 November. Those dates connect the launch with current racing, although the documentary’s story concerns the previous season.
Pin, Weug, Chambers and Palmowski among the featured drivers
The announcements name Doriane Pin, Maya Weug, Chloe Chambers and Alisha Palmowski among the drivers being followed. Filming across locations on the 2025 F1 Academy calendar covers race weekends and moments away from the circuit. Competition pressure, personal sacrifices, ambition and perseverance are among the themes announced. That gives established followers familiar names to look for and offers newcomers a route into the championship.
The announced format and where it will launch
Disney and F1 Academy describe The Pursuit as a documentary special. Their announcements establish the platforms and release windows without giving a running time or an episode structure. Disney+ has a stated date of 19 November; the ESPN App has a broader window later in 2026. The global announcement is a useful reference for viewers in Romania, with the local title listing providing details of the available catalogue options. These releases do not specify a launch hour or information about Romanian subtitles. Those details should therefore be checked on the platform’s own listing.
Susie Wolff and the teams are part of the story
The documentary will also explore the teams and leadership behind F1 Academy, including Managing Director Susie Wolff. In introducing the project, she emphasises each driver’s journey, with setbacks and achievements accompanying what happens on track. That perspective matters for a championship launched by Formula 1 to prepare young women for progression through motorsport. The announcement therefore includes a perspective on the working environment around the drivers. For now, the confirmed scope extends beyond the drivers alone to the people helping shape their opportunities.
How it connects with Fuel the Magic
Produced in association with ESPN, The Pursuit: F1 ACADEMY extends Fuel the Magic, the multiyear collaboration between Disney, Formula 1 and F1 Academy. The partnership was first unveiled at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix and expanded at the Canadian round to include the women’s series. Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck became central characters in that part of the collaboration. The documentary adds distribution through video platforms to a project already involving products and fan experiences. The partners’ shared message centres on visibility and encouraging the next generation of women in motorsport.
APEX analysis: keep the 2025 and 2026 timelines distinct
Following the story clearly means separating two timelines: the season filmed and the season in which the documentary is released. An emotion, rivalry or difficulty shown from 2025 does not automatically explain competitive form in October 2026. Current standings and analysis remain separate references. Considered together, however, they may show how a career develops: what changes between campaigns, how experience and confidence are built and which goals are expressed at different moments. Keeping those dates in mind makes it easier to appreciate the retrospective without confusing it with coverage of the current championship.
APEX analysis: what it can add beyond a results table
A results table records who finished ahead; a story from behind the scenes can help viewers understand the work between race starts. Useful questions when watching will concern preparation, communication with the team and the response to a difficult weekend. Those are viewing criteria, not conclusions about unseen scenes. For the championship’s present, APEX’s F1 Academy hub brings together news and sporting references, including its analysis of the Austin title contest. The documentary can therefore provide an entry point into following the races, alongside its role as a look back at an earlier campaign.
