Catching up with Chiara Bättig throughout the Silverstone weekend, the 16-year-old Wild Card driver reflected on her memorable debut.

As far as first impressions go, few drivers have made as big of an impact on the F1 ACADEMY grid as Chiara Bättig. Competing in her first full season in single-seaters, the Swiss racer made history across the Silverstone weekend. The first Wild Card polesitter and the youngest to do so, Bättig brought home points in the Reverse Grid Race and followed it up with a P2 finish in the Feature Race — making her the first-ever Wild Card podium finisher alongside securing Hitech’s first piece of silverware.
Catching up with Bättig throughout the weekend, the 16-year-old reflected on her memorable debut…

INSIDE STORY: Bättig debriefs her historic Wild Card weekend at Silverstone

Rewatch the first-ever F1 ACADEMY Qualifying session at Silverstone, as Wild Card driver Chiara Bättig achieved a record-breaking pole position.

Rewatch the first-ever F1 ACADEMY Qualifying session at Silverstone, as Chiara Bättig achieved a record-breaking pole position, becoming the youngest driver and first Wild Card to do so.

Highlights: 2026 Round 3 Qualifying in Silverstone

HIGHLIGHTS: Bättig scores sensational pole position in Silverstone Qualifying debut

Chiara Bättig delivered on debut at Silverstone, becoming the first Wild Card to achieve a pole position and the youngest F1 ACADEMY driver to do so.

QUALIFYING: Bättig makes history as she rockets to first Wild Card pole at Silverstone

Satisfied by how she’s begun to adapt to the new machinery, Bättig acknowledges that a far greater challenge lies ahead in Qualifying.

Chiara Bättig made a promising start to her debut F1 ACADEMY weekend at Silverstone, with the Wild Card driver comfortably leading the pack in Practice.
Speaking after the team debrief, the Wella driver was satisfied by how she’s begun to adapt to the new machinery but acknowledges that a far greater challenge lies ahead in Qualifying.

‘Good step for a strong weekend’ – Bättig pleased by initial pace after topping Silverstone Practice

Check out the three new liveries that will be taking to the track for Round 3 of the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season at Silverstone.

Wella, Racing Bulls and Williams have unveiled the three eye-catching liveries that will be adorning their cars for Round 3 at Silverstone.

FIRST LOOK: Wella, Racing Bulls and Williams unveil their Silverstone liveries

We asked Brits Megan Bruce, Ella Lloyd, Alisha Palmowski, Rachel Robertson and Ella Stevens to reflect on their favourite Silverstone memories.

As some of the field prepare to mark their first time racing at the British Grand Prix, we asked Brits Megan Bruce, Ella Lloyd, Alisha Palmowski, Rachel Robertson and Ella Stevens to reflect on their favourite Silverstone memories as they look to add to them this weekend…

‘That's where my passion for motorsport was really unlocked’ – Our drivers share their favourite British Grand Prix memories

Following the conclusion of the F1 ACADEMY Reverse Grid Race in Montreal, three drivers have been penalised.

Larsen, Lloyd and Fisher penalised following Montreal Reverse Grid Race

Following the conclusion of the F1 ACADEMY Opening Race in Montreal, Rachel Robertson and Payton Westcott have been handed time penalties.

Robertson and Westcott handed penalties following Montreal Opening Race

F1 ACADEMY and Dirt Is Good have today announced a new partnership, becoming the first-ever Official Laundry Detergent Partner of the series.

F1 ACADEMY and Dirt Is Good have today announced a new multi-year partnership, with the world’s largest laundry brand becoming the first-ever Official Laundry Detergent Partner of the series.

Dirt Is Good named Official Laundry Detergent Partner of F1 ACADEMY with Zoe Florescu announced as Zandvoort Wild Card

The 18-year-old Canadian will make her F1 ACADEMY debut as the Wild Card entry for Round 2 of the 2026 season at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

Autumn Fisher will compete in Montreal as an F1 Academy Wild Card entry for Standard Chartered.

Autumn Fisher confirmed as Standard Chartered Wild Card entry for F1 ACADEMY Montreal round

Rookie driver Rachel Robertson may have missed out on scoring points in Shanghai, but she was nevertheless satisfied with the improvements she’s made.

Rookie driver Rachel Robertson may have missed out on scoring points in Shanghai, but she was nevertheless satisfied with the improvements she’s made over such a short period of time. 

Robertson encouraged by ‘big step up’ in Shanghai but recognises room for improvement

Leaving Shanghai with a single point, Team Manager Dan Hodder has admitted that Hitech left plenty of performance on the table. 

Leaving Shanghai with a single point, Team Manager Dan Hodder has admitted that Hitech left plenty of performance on the table and still have untapped potential to unlock.

‘We had a lot more potential which we didn’t quite capitalise on’ – Hodder assesses ‘reasonable’ Hitech showing in Shanghai

Following the conclusion of F1 ACADEMY Race 2 in Shanghai, Rachel Robertson and Jade Jacquet have both been handed grid penalties.

Robertson and Jacquet penalised following Shanghai Race 2

F1 ACADEMY Official Partner PUMA have unveiled the livery that will adorn their 2026 challenger alongside the racewear Rachel Robertson will sport.

F1 ACADEMY Official Partner PUMA have unveiled the livery that will adorn their newest challenger alongside the racewear Rachel Robertson will sport in 2026.

FIRST LOOK: PUMA reveal Rachel Robertson's 2026 livery and racewear

Chinese driver Shi Wei, also known as ‘Tie Dou’, will return as the first F1 ACADEMY Wild Card entry of the 2026 season.

Shi Wei returns as first 2026 F1 ACADEMY Wild Card driver

Ava Dobson will take on her rookie F1 ACADEMY season this year, with the 17-year-old competing for the series’ Official Partner American Express.  

Ava Dobson to represent American Express for 2026 F1 ACADEMY season

As the fourth F1 ACADEMY season draws closer, meet the teams featuring on the 18-car grid as they ready themselves to battle it out once in 2026.

Six of the most well-known names in junior single-seater racing are readying themselves to battle it out once in 2026. As the fourth F1 ACADEMY season draws closer, meet the teams featuring on the 18-car grid and keep an eye out as their line-ups are announced…

Who are the 2026 F1 ACADEMY teams?

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

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. 

Rachel Robertson steps up to 2026 grid with PUMA

As the 2026 grid fills up, find out more about the drivers announced for the upcoming F1 ACADEMY campaign.

With two months to go until the fourth F1 ACADEMY campaign kicks off in Shanghai, the grid is rapidly taking shape. Meeting new faces and welcoming back returning favourites, here is the lowdown on the 16 full-time drivers that have been confirmed for 2026 so far…

Who are the 2026 F1 ACADEMY drivers?

It was a rollercoaster Las Vegas weekend for the Wild Card entry, as Westcott went from a spectacular points finish to a race-ending collision.

It was a rollercoaster Las Vegas weekend for the season’s final Wild Card entry Payton Westcott, as she went from a spectacular points finish to a race-ending collision.

‘I’ve definitely learned a lot’ – Westcott proud of how she adapted across her Wild Card performance in Las Vegas

Rachel Robertson wasn’t expecting to be called up for the season finale, but she resolved to make the most of the unique opportunity in Las Vegas.

Rachel Robertson wasn’t expecting to be called up to F1 ACADEMY for the dazzling season finale, but she resolved to make the most of the unique opportunity under the Las Vegas lights.

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