Payton Westcott to drive for Mercedes in 2026 F1 ACADEMY campaign

Payton Westcott has become the latest driver locked in for the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season, with Mercedes recruiting the American racer for the upcoming campaign.

The 16-year-old will take on her rookie season in the Mercedes operated by PREMA Racing car, alongside contesting a dual programme in Italian F4.

Starting out in karting aged six, Westcott progressed to competitive karting six years later, scoring promising results in the United States Pro Kart Series, California Pro Kart Challenge, and finished third in the Challenge of the Americas.

After being selected for the inaugural cohort of F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE karters in the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy Program, Westcott progressed into single-seaters the following year. Honing her craft in the Formula Winter Series, Italian F4 Championship, E4 Championship and F4 Saudi Arabian Championship, Westcott achieved a Female Trophy win in the Formula Winter Series alongside becoming the first and only woman to take home a victory in the UAE Trophy series.

Making her F1 ACADEMY debut as the Wild Card entry for the Las Vegas season finale, the American delivered a P6 finish on home soil in Race 1.

Becoming the first driver to progress from F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE karter to the grid, Westcott expressed her desire to make the most of the opportunity before her.

“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.”

“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.”

Gwen Lagrue, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Driver Development Advisor, commented: “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.”

“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.”

With Doriane Pin graduating to a Development Driver role with Mercedes, Westcott will work closely with the reigning F1 ACADEMY Champion throughout the season ahead.

Pin added: "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.”

"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.”