Chiara Bättig set to make F1 Academy debut as Silverstone wild card with Wella

Swiss rising star Chiara Bättig will make her F1 Academy debut at Silverstone after being announced as the Wild Card entry for the third round of the 2026 season, as the all-female series makes its first-ever visit to the legendary British circuit.

Photo credits: Red Bull Content Pool

Swiss rising star Chiara Bättig will make her F1 Academy debut at Silverstone after being announced as the Wild Card entry for the third round of the 2026 season, as the all-female series makes its first-ever visit to the legendary British circuit.

One of the most exciting young female prospects in motorsport, Bättig arrives on the F1 Academy grid in the midst of a breakthrough rookie campaign in single-seaters. The 16-year-old Swiss racer is currently contesting the 2026 British F4 Championship with Hitech, the same team with which she will make her F1 Academy debut, and will race the #6 car in a bespoke red Wella livery, inspired by the brand’s “Make It You” campaign celebrating confidence and female empowerment in the F1 Academy paddock.

For Bättig, the Silverstone appearance marks another major step in what has already been a remarkable rise through the ranks. Having only recently transitioned from karting into formula cars, the Zürich-based teenager has quickly established herself as one of the most anticipated new female talents in single-seater racing: her path to this opportunity has been built on a substantial foundation of karting success, as well as strong early results in F4 machinery.

Before stepping into car racing, Bättig had in fact already built an outstanding reputation in karting. She dominated Swiss national competitions, securing three consecutive Swiss titles in the OK Junior category, including her 2024 championship-winning season in which she collected eight victories from fifteen starts.

Her speed was equally evident on the international stage. Among her most notable achievements was taking pole position in the OK category at the 2025 CIK-FIA European Championship, and was runner up in the Champions Of The Future Academy program International Series in the OK-N Senior class.

A pivotal moment came at the Red Bull Driver Search event in Estoril, where Bättig drove a single-seater for the first time. That outing proved decisive as her performance earned her a place in the Red Bull Junior Team, giving her the backing of one of motorsport’s most prestigious development programmes as she prepared to make the jump into formula racing.

Bättig’s first full experience in cars came in the F4 Saudi Arabian Championship, which has served as an important development platform during her transition from karting to single-seaters. She made her debut in the series earlier this year in Bahrain and immediately turned heads by topping both practice sessions, while also showing strong qualifying pace.

Although her first races in Saudi F4 were disrupted by misfortune, the raw speed was clear from the outset. To further prepare for her main 2026 campaign, Bättig also contested the Formula Winter Series, where she immediately impressed in a highly competitive field. At the weather-affected opening round at Estoril, she delivered a breakthrough performance by finishing second, securing her first podium in Formula 4 machinery.

Bättig’s full-time single-seater debut this season has come in the British F4 Championship, where Hitech signed the Red Bull Junior as part of its 2026 line-up. The series has provided a steep learning curve, but the Swiss teenager has adapted quickly and has already shown front-running pace on several occasions.

One of the highlights of her first rounds came at Brands Hatch, where a technical issue in qualifying left her down in 30th on the grid. Bättig responded with a remarkable recovery across the three races, charging through the field to finish sixth and gaining an astonishing 47 positions over the course of the weekend.

She has continued to build on that momentum ever since: after another encouraging performance at Snetterton, Bättig took the next major step in her development at Silverstone. At the British F4 round on the Grand Prix circuit, she secured another breakthrough result by claiming a podium finish and also setting the overall fastest lap of the race.

It was the second podium of her rookie season in one of Europe’s toughest Formula 4 championships and further cemented her reputation as one of the most exciting female newcomers in junior single-seaters.

Now, that progress will be rewarded with an F1 Academy opportunity at one of the sport’s most iconic venues. Bättig will in fact join Hitech for her Wild Card appearance and will join the F1 Academy grid at Silverstone carrying significant momentum from her recent British F4 outing.

She will compete in the #6 Hitech entry, run in partnership with Wella, whose branding will feature prominently on the car in a special red livery designed around the company’s “Make It You” campaign.

The Wild Card opportunity offers Bättig a platform to continue her development, gain experience in a high-profile environment in front of the F1 paddock.

“Silverstone is one of the most legendary circuits in motorsport, so making my F1 Academy debut here as the Wild Card driver is a dream come true,” said Bättig, expressing her excitement at making her F1 Academy debut at Silverstone.

“I’m excited to challenge myself, learn from every session, and show what I’m capable of on such a big stage with the support of Wella behind me. I’m focused on making every lap count and leaving a strong impression.”