Rachel Robertson steps up to 2026 grid with PUMA

F1 ACADEMY Official Partner PUMA have announced that Rachel Robertson will be representing them on the grid this season.

The Scottish racer is set to step up to the series full-time, after a strong debut at the Las Vegas season finale, where she scored a P4 finish in Race 1.

Robertson began competitively karting in 2022, before moving up to the British Kart Championships the following year. In 2024, she achieved multiple top-10 results in the Senior Rotax Class in the 2024 BKC and was the only female driver to compete in that category.

Beating out more than 50 other young British drivers, Robertson was selected for a factory drive with Radical Motorsport for the 2025 Radical Cup UK season, going on to score a top-three finish in the Standings. Invited to participate in the inaugural F1 ACADEMY Rookie Test, the 18-year-old clocked in top-five times across both sessions at the Circuito de Navarra.

Reflecting on her rise through the ranks, Robertson spoke of her excitement at taking to the track in the PUMA operated by Hitech car for her rookie season.

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining F1 ACADEMY with PUMA for 2026,” she said. “It’s been an amazing journey to get here, just three years ago I was coming off my novice kart plates, having only got into the sport after persuading my dad to take me indoor rental karting.

“So much hard work has gone into this from my family and so many amazing people, and I’m hugely grateful for everything. I love that PUMA is the fastest sports brand in the world and that it represents being brave and true to yourself. That's exactly what I want to be this year.”