Silverstone: The Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team has officially revealed its F1 Academy car livery, which will be driven by German talent Mathilda Paatz in her debut year of the all-female series.
The sleek design features the signature Aston Martin racing green and mirrors the team’s elegant AMR26 livery, proudly carrying the Aston Martin Aramco identity on the F1 Academy grid. Mathilda, who represents Aston Martin Aramco as a member of its Driver Academy, drove the liveried F4-spec car operated by PREMA Racing during the first official F1 Academy test, which took place at Shanghai International Circuit between 11-13 February.
Mathilda Paatz, F1 Academy and Aston Martin Aramco Academy Driver: “Seeing the Aston Martin Aramco livery on the car for the first time was really special - it looks incredible and instantly made me feel part of the team. Driving the car for the first time during pre-season testing in Shanghai, I learned a lot. It was something new for me to adapt to, and I'm working well with the team at PREMA to become more familiar with the car. There were challenging moments across those three days, but as a team, we’re pushing hard in preparation for the first race in China. By day three, I was already becoming more comfortable on track, and so I'm keen to get racing next month. I’m not setting my expectations too high, but I'm feeling confident - my goal is to do my best and have a clean weekend that I can be proud of.”
Mathilda Paatz Biography
Mathilda, 17, from Cologne, Germany, joined the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team Driver Academy in November 2025 and was announced as the team’s F1 Academy representative for the 2026 season, competing with PREMA Racing.
In addition to her full-season debut with Aston Martin Aramco in F1 Academy this year, which gets underway at the Shanghai International Circuit on 13-15 March, Mathilda continues to compete in the Formula Winter Series and F4 CEZ Championship, showcasing her adaptability and dedication across categories.
Mathilda brings an impressive racing background. She began karting in 2019 at age ten, swiftly showing promise with third place in the 2020 ADAC Kart Masters - Mini category. In 2022, she claimed victory in the ADAC Kart Masters - Ladies Cup and finished third overall in the standings.
Stepping into single-seaters, she became the first female driver supported by the ADAC Motorsport Junior program in 2024 with ADAC Formel Junior Team in F4 France. She built further momentum in 2025, securing four wins in the E4 Championship - Trophy Woman and multiple class podiums in the competitive Italian F4 Championship.
Her F1 Academy debut came as a Wild Card entry in Montreal in June 2025 with Hitech TGR, following a solid F4 Central European Zone (CEZ) Championship campaign where she achieved a podium (second place at the Red Bull Ring) and finished eighth overall with several top five finishes. This progression positions her as the second F4 CEZ graduate to enter F1 Academy, highlighting her rise on the international stage.