Payton Westcott Unveils New Car Design for F1 Academy

Payton Westcott will begin her F1 Academy season at the Chinese Grand Prix (13-15 March), with her car sporting a striking new livery (pictured) directly inspired by the recently revealed Mercedes-AMG F1 W17 E PERFORMANCE.

Mirroring the PETRONAS green flow line that defines the 2026 F1 challenger, Payton’s F1 Academy car features a dynamic sweep of volt green color, anchoring the design from nose to rear, emphasizing motion, precision, and identity. The livery blends the team’s iconic silver, the powerful deep black, and the signature volt green that identifies up-and-coming young drivers associated with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.

Senior partner Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. returns with Snapdragon branding proudly represented on the 2026 entry, underscoring a continued commitment to supporting opportunities for young female talent across global motorsport. Microsoft, BetterUp and Unity are brand new additions to the livery of the Mercedes entry into the all-female series.

Payton said: “I am proud to reveal my car livery for the 2026 F1 Academy season. For me, seeing it all come together just makes it so much more real – the new season is here! I can’t wait to get on track and race. I am sure it is going to be a hit with the fans and I look forward to fighting to put the car at the front of the field.”

Bradley Lord, Team Representative of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, commented: “The reveal of Payton’s F1 Academy livery is another milestone on the road to the 2026 season. We are excited to watch her racing in the colors of the Silver Arrows across the season and know she will represent Mercedes with the same determination, passion, and integrity as the wider team.

“We’re also proud to continue our F1 Academy journey with our long-term partner Snapdragon and to welcome BetterUp, Unity and Microsoft into the project. We all share the same goal of developing the next generation of female motorsport talent. It’s fantastic to have their support across such an important series; we look forward to enabling Payton’s progress and to her achieving the best possible results in the year ahead.”

The 16-year-old American driver arrives in F1 Academy with a strong pedigree, as she built momentum through consistent results and rapid development over the past years. She joins the team as the F1 Academy series continues its mission to prepare and elevate female drivers.

The 2026 F1 Academy season will race across seven rounds alongside F1, offering Payton an international platform as she enters her first season in the series.