PREMA Racing is delighted to announce that American driver Payton Westcott will compete with the team in the 2026 F1 Academy series, representing the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.
Westcott was born in 2009 and started racing at the age of 12, achieving valuable results in the United States Pro Kart Series, California Pro Kart Challenge, and claiming third overall in the Challenge of the Americas.
She later entered the Champions of the Future Academy Program and an F1 Academy ‘Discover Your Drive’ scholarship in 2024, which helped make her way to her international karting debut in Europe.
She made the step to single-seaters in 2025, competing in the Formula Winter Series, Italian F4 Championship, and E4 Championship. Later in the season, she achieved a stunning overall win in the 2025 Formula Trophy in the UAE.
Her impressive progress also enabled her to receive a wild-card invite for last year’s F1 Academy finale at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where she achieved a sixth-place finish.
Westcott will work closely with Doriane Pin, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Development Driver, who claimed the 2025 F1 Academy title under the PREMA Racing banner.
Stephen Mitas - Team Principal & CEO
"We are happy to welcome Payton to our F1 Academy team. She was very impressive in Formula 4 and was even able to take a great overall win in the United Arab Emirates. The team already started working with her in preparation for the season, and everything is going quite well. We are confident she will be among the top contenders of the series."
Payton Westcott
“I’m excited to join the Mercedes family for the 2026 F1 Academy season. They are an incredible team and one that is driven by passion, determination, and a constant pursuit of excellence. It’s an amazing opportunity to work with such a talented group of people that are commitment to developing young talent. I’m looking forward to learning new tracks throughout the season and continuing to grow my skill set both on and off the circuit. Every race weekend will be a chance to push my limits, refine my driving, and build consistency. I’m motivated to make the most of this journey and take the next big step in my career.”