Kaylee Countryman steps up to F1 ACADEMY for 2026 with Haas

Kaylee Countryman has become the 10th driver confirmed for the 2026 F1 ACADEMY campaign, with Haas announcing that the American racer will be representing them on next year’s grid.

Hailing from Chandler, Arizona, Countryman began racing on her birthday three years ago. Starting out in a four-stroke Briggs & Stratton-powered kart in the LO206 J2 class, she collected multiple podiums, including a P2 finish at a national karting event in California, and competed at the Grand Nationals in Indiana.

In 2023, Countryman progressed into two-stroke karts and international racing, joining the J3 Competition and becoming a factory driver for CompKart.

This season, she stepped into the North American-based USF Juniors series with Exclusive Autosport. One of three female in the 22-driver field, Countryman scored four top-10 finishes. Additionally, she made a two-round appearance in the USF2000 Championship and participated in F1 ACADEMY in-season testing in Navarra.

Driving with ART Grand Prix next season, the 15-year-old — who turns 16 in January 2026 — will benefit from additional track time with a campaign in the USF2000 Championship, once again racing for Exclusive Autosport.

“I’m so thrilled that I’ve been given this opportunity to represent Haas F1 Team and ART Grand Prix in the F1 ACADEMY for 2026,” enthused Countryman. “I look forward to taking another step in my career and learning to work in such a professional environment.

“I’m particularly excited about the various circuits we’ll be visiting around the world and being part of all that F1 ACADEMY represents. I enjoyed a productive test with ART Grand Prix and I’m keen to build on that foundation as we go racing in 2026.”

“We’re delighted to welcome Kaylee Countryman into the team to represent us in F1 ACADEMY from next season,” stated Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. “Her personality and passion for this sport are contagious, and we want to ensure she has everything she needs to flourish in F1 ACADEMY, whether that be access to our resources and personnel, or simply advice and guidance.

"I believe together, we’ll achieve some exciting things on-track. I’m delighted Kaylee’s joined us, and we look forward to seeing her development as a driver in F1 ACADEMY.”