F1 Academy star, 16, reaches 155mph on racetracks - but hasn't passed driving test yet

F1 Academy star, 16, reaches 155mph on racetracks - but hasn't passed driving test yet Lisa Billard, 16, is taking part in F1 Academy, a female-only racing championship, and hopes to qualify for Formula 1 in the future Speeding around racetracks at over 150mph, it's hard to believe that teenage motorsport prodigy Lisa Billard doesn't even have a valid driving licence yet. At just 16-years-old, the French driver is currently in the middle of high-pressure race season, while simultaneously trying to learn how to drive a normal car. "I've done my first lesson driving on the road and it was really strange as you have to drive at 30mph," Lisa laughed. "My driving instructor knows I am a racing driver, so he is very strict with me when it comes to the speed." Lisa currently drives in Formula 4, where her car reaches top speeds of 155mph - in stark contrast to the small Renault Clio she's learning in for her test. She said: "I am learning new things because it's a manual so it's different to Formula 4 and all the rules are different. There is no flag and you have to stop at the traffic lights." Originally from Normandy, France, Lisa's passion for motorsports began at seven when she started go-karting alongside her dad. Standing out as a young girl in a heavily male-dominated sport presented early hurdles. "I've always loved speed and adrenaline. Starting at seven years old as the only girl was difficult," Lisa told Daily Mirror. "The boys were a lot more aggressive with me on the track because they didn't want to have a girl in front of them." Undeterred, Lisa carried on, and last year, she stepped onto the global stage as the youngest-ever Wild Card driver for Round 6 of the F1 Academy season in Singapore. The F1 Academy is an all-women driving school designed to develop young drivers aged 16 to 25, offering crucial support for rising talent. "It's really good [in the academy] to have other girls who are doing the same thing as me," Lisa said. "We are all chasing the same role and it feels like a family. We understand each other and [know how]difficult [the] path [can be] for a girl." Her goal is to break into Formula 1 - a sport that currently has no female drivers on the starting grid - and compete at the highest level. "My goal is one day to become a Formula One driver, and not only to just do it as a girl, but to be one of the best drivers in the world," Lisa said. "People assume we just want to go fast, but the goal is to be the best on the track." Reaching that level requires an immense level of preparation, that goes beyond spending hours behind the wheel. When she isn't driving on the track or training in a simulator, Lisa stays fit through rock climbing. During a race weekend, temperatures inside a cockpit can peak between 50°C and 60°C due to engine heat, hot asphalt, and the thick fireproof suits drivers wear. The extreme conditions cause drivers to lose up to four litres of fluid over a single race weekend. "Losing that much water means I am quite sweaty after a race," Lisa said. "You need to make sure you are very hydrated before to make sure you have enough endurance. Being sponsored by Gatorade works well for this as they always help me keep well-hydrated and I have a specialist tracking everything." Oozing coolness as she zips across the tarmac, Lisa's passion for racing slows no signs of cooling down - and she is just getting started. [Image text:] GATORADE GATORADE G TORADE SELL FSA LTOR