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.

Hitech

Hitech

Hitech

2026 F1 Academy Stats for season

Standing

Points

Drivers

Bättig (WCD)

21/03/2010

Swiss

Wella Professionals

Dobson

09/06/2008

American

American Express

Robertson

28/07/2007

British

PUMA

Team Members

HITECH News

Interview

Video

Report

Interview