‘Today wasn’t my best work’ - Westcott reflects on challenging home race weekend in Austin

Payton Westcott had mixed emotions following the Feature Race in Austin, as the Mercedes driver claimed her fourth podium of the season.

Westcott started her weekend strongly, almost claiming her maiden pole position after Alisha Palmowski’s fastest lap time was initially deleted for track limits, then reinstated later reinstated.

The American had to settle for a P2 start in both the Opening and Feature Races, with the Red Bull Racing driver beating her by less than a tenth.

Silverware looked like a realistic prospect as Westcott got a better start and claimed the lead off the line during the Opening Race. However, the Mercedes driver lost out later that lap and ran wide, eventually dropping her down to finish in P7.

The 17-year-old returned to the front row for the Feature Race, starting second beside Palmowski. Westcott got the better start again, but Gademan pulled off an outside move to take the lead at Turn 1.

The Mercedes driver ran second but was quickly overtaken by Palmowski and Alba Larsen, who went on to collide with both retiring. Westcott moved into P2 and went on to claim her fourth podium of the season, finishing behind Gademan.

“I think today wasn’t my best work from my racing standpoint or my pace standpoint,” she started. “I was very, very lucky to come away with a podium at my home race.

“I’m very happy, obviously, coming away with the podium. I did have a shot at P1, but just more things that I could improve on in my driving that could have given me that opportunity. I think there’s definitely a lot to learn from this weekend and a lot that I can carry on into Las Vegas.

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“I think it’s been a bit harder this weekend than some of my other weekends, but that’s where you have the most growth. When it’s hard is when you grow. I think this will definitely set me up better for my future. You could come away with a P1 and not have learned as much as P2, but if you really use that to propel yourself forward, it’s really going to give you a lot more momentum.”

Round 6 heads to Las Vegas, where Westcott made her F1 ACADEMY debut last season as the Wild Card driver. After Qualifying 17th, the American claimed her first points in the series, finishing sixth in the Reverse Grid Race.

In the Feature Race, an unfortunate collision with Joanne Ciconte forced the Mercedes driver to retire. Westcott hopes to improve on her performance from last year, acknowledging it’s a full-circle moment.

“I’m super excited to go back to Las Vegas," she said. "In general, just super excited to be ending the season at two of my home races. Then to be going back to Las Vegas, where it all first started and see the growth and the change in positions - I guess you can say - of where I will be versus where I was. I think it’s just going to be such an incredible circle-back moment.”

Westcott has been one of the season's standout rookies, claiming her maiden win in Zandvoort, plus third-place finishes in Shanghai and Montreal, and a second-place finish in Austin. She currently leads the top rookie fight in fifth place, 18 points ahead of teammate Natalia Granada, and intends on staying there.

“Top rookie honours are important to me," noted Westcott. "I still think my main focus is growth, so if I struggle a lot during Vegas but I grow a lot, that’s what’s really going to do it for me, that’s the most important thing to me - growth.”