PREMA Racing has confirmed that Payton Westcott has secured a place on the 2026 F1 Academy grid, with Mercedes also announcing its support for the American teenager. Westcott will race in Mercedes colours during her rookie F1 Academy campaign, while also contesting a parallel programme in Italian Formula 4. Although demanding, this dual schedule has been carefully structured to accelerate her development within junior single-seater racing.
A steady rise from karting to the international stage
Steady progression and early promise have shaped Westcott’s journey to this point. She began karting at a young age before stepping into competitive machinery six years later, where she quickly established herself within the American karting scene. Strong performances followed in the United States Pro Kart Series and the California Pro Kart Challenge, while a third-place finish in the Challenge of the Americas further underlined her potential.
Her career took a decisive turn in 2024 when she was selected for the inaugural F1 Academy Discover Your Drive karting cohort as part of the Champions of the Future Academy Program. That opportunity not only marked her international karting debut in Europe but also opened the door to single-seater racing the following year.
Throughout 2025, Westcott contested a broad range of championships, including the Formula Winter Series, Italian F4 Championship, E4 Championship and the F4 Saudi Arabian Championship. During that campaign, she claimed the Female Trophy title in the Formula Winter Series and made history by becoming the first and only woman to secure an overall victory in the UAE Trophy series.
An impressive F1 Academy introduction sees Westcott join 2026 F1 Academy grid with PREMA and Mercedes support
Westcott’s progress culminated in a Wild Card appearance at the F1 Academy season finale in Las Vegas, where she made her series debut in front of a home crowd. Delivering a composed and competitive performance, she finished sixth in Race 1, scoring points on her first outing and reinforcing her readiness for a full-time seat.
Now confirmed as a Mercedes-backed driver, Westcott becomes the first competitor to progress directly from the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive karting initiative onto the championship grid. Reflecting on the significance of the opportunity, she shared her excitement and ambitions ahead of the 2026 season.
“I’m excited to join the Mercedes family for the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season. They are an incredible team and one that is driven by passion, determination, and a constant pursuit of excellence. It’s an amazing opportunity to work with such a talented group of people that are commitment to developing young talent.”
As she looks ahead to a calendar featuring new venues and unfamiliar challenges, Westcott has made clear that her focus extends beyond immediate results and centres on long-term growth.
“I’m looking forward to learning new tracks throughout the season and continuing to grow my skill set both on and off the circuit. Every race weekend will be a chance to push my limits, refine my driving, and build consistency. I’m motivated to make the most of this journey and take the next big step in my career.”
Mercedes outline development-focused approach for Westcott in 2026 F1 Academy and Italian F4 dual programme
Within the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, expectations for Westcott’s rookie season remain measured, with an emphasis placed firmly on development rather than pressure. Driver Development Advisor Gwen Lagrue acknowledged the challenge that lies ahead, particularly as Westcott follows in the footsteps of a championship-winning predecessor.
“We’re very pleased to welcome Payton Westcott to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team family for the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season. She steps into big shoes by succeeding Doriane, who set a very high benchmark within our programme. We know Payton is a rookie, and we approach the season with realistic ambitions, but this is a challenge she understands and fully embraces.
“At just 16 years old, Payton has already demonstrated both maturity and strong performance. Her results in the 2025 Italian F4 and Euro 4 championships, as well as her recent performances in the UAE Formula 4 series, underline not only her speed but also her ability to adapt quickly to highly competitive environments.”
Lagrue also highlighted the importance of combining F1 ACADEMY with a continued Formula 4 programme, viewing the dual commitment as a critical part of Westcott’s long-term progression.
“The 2026 season will be intense for Payton. Alongside F1 ACADEMY, she will continue racing in Italian F4 to further develop her race craft, technical understanding, and overall experience. We believe this dual programme will accelerate her progression and provide a solid foundation for her long-term ambitions in single-seater racing. We look forward to supporting her throughout this important next stage of her journey with us.”
Pin to offer guidance to rookie Westcott
Westcott will also benefit from close guidance from Doriane Pin, the reigning F1 Academy Champion, who remains closely linked to the programme as a Mercedes Development Driver. While Pin moves into a new phase of her career in endurance racing, her involvement with Westcott throughout the season remains a key element of Mercedes’ support structure.
Pin will contest the 2026 European Le Mans Series with Duqueine Team. She will compete in the LMP2 Pro/Am class in the No.30 Oreca. Her campaign begins with the 4 Hours of Barcelona on 12 April and continues through Le Castellet, Imola, Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone and Portimão.
Despite these new commitments, Pin has spoken positively about Westcott’s mindset and potential.
“Payton has the motivation and the mindset to make the most of this opportunity with Mercedes in F1 ACADEMY. She has shown so far that she is a great up-and-coming talent with lots of room to continuing progressing. We’re all excited to see how she will do this year.”
Pin also expressed her personal enthusiasm for mentoring Westcott during such a formative stage of her career.
“Personally, I am also really happy to support Payton throughout the season as she continues to develop in her young racing career. As last year’s champion and as Development Driver for the team, I am looking forward to passing on my knowledge and experience that I learnt to her, being able to support and give her guidance, and being present trackside across the year.”
Westcott to embark on defining 2026 season
Team Principal and CEO of PREMA Racing, Stephan Mitas, also expressed high hopes for Westcott saying: “We are happy to welcome Payton to our F1 Academy team. She was very impressive in Formula 4 and was even able to take a great overall win in the United Arab Emirates. The team already started working with her in preparation for the season, and everything is going quite well. We are confident she will be among the top contenders of the series.”
With Mercedes backing, PREMA Racing support and guidance from a reigning champion, Westcott enters the 2026 F1 Academy season facing one of the most demanding years of her career so far. Nevertheless, her rapid rise through the ranks suggests she is well prepared to embrace the challenge and continue building momentum on the international stage.
