Kaylee Countryman to make F1 Academy debut with ART GP in Haas-supported entry for 2026
- RACERS
- 3 hours ago
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American teenager Kaylee Countryman will join the F1 Academy grid in 2026 with ART Grand Prix and Haas F1 support, alongside a USF2000 campaign.
Kaylee Countryman is set to make her F1 Academy debut in 2026 after being confirmed as an ART Grand Prix driver in the Haas F1-supported entry, in a significant milestone in the American teenager’s single-seater career.
Countryman, who turns 16 in January, becomes the 10th driver confirmed for the 2026 F1 Academy grid and completes ART Grand Prix’s three-car line-up: she will race alongside Lisa Billard, who occupies the Gatorade-supported entry, and Jade Jacquet, who represents Williams.
“I’m so thrilled that I’ve been given this opportunity to represent Haas F1 Team and ART Grand Prix in the F1 Academy for 2026,” said Countryman. “I look forward to taking another step in my career and learning to work in such a professional environment.
“I’m particularly excited about the various circuits we’ll be visiting around the world and being part of all that F1 Academy represents. I enjoyed a productive test with ART Grand Prix and I’m keen to build on that foundation as we go racing in 2026.”
Countryman only began karting four years ago, yet quickly established herself across a wide range of American karting categories. Over two seasons, she competed in the Briggs 206, Rotax, KA100 and X30 classes, accumulating significant seat time that laid the foundations for her transition to formula cars at just 14 years of age.
Her move into single-seaters came via the Lucas Oil School of Racing Formula Car Race Series, before she embarked on an extensive testing programme with Exclusive Autosport. That programme has focused on preparing Countryman for competitive racing mileage in the Tatuus JR23, towards her racing debut in the USF Juniors Championship in 2025.
Driving for Exclusive Autosport in her rookie season, Countryman has steadily progressed throughout the USF Juniors campaign; she enjoyed a breakthrough at Mid-Ohio, breaking into the top ten for the first time with a P10 finish, before improving further to P8 in the same round.
Alongside her USF Juniors programme, Countryman has also gained valuable experience at a higher level by contesting selected rounds of the USF2000 Championship. She competed at Road America and on the streets of Toronto, where she delivered an impressive performance to finish P11 in Race 1.
Returning to Road America later in the season, she added another top-ten result ahead of the season finale in Portland, securing her fourth top-ten finish of the year.
The latter half of the season proved particularly strong, with Countryman consistently challenging inside the midfield and points-paying positions. She ultimately finished 16th in the championship standings with 89 points.
At the conclusion of the 2025 season, Countryman expanded her international experience by travelling outside the United States to test Formula 4 machinery in Europe. She also took part in an F1 Academy collective test at Navarra, stepping in as a replacement for compatriot Courtney Crone. The outing provided her first direct exposure to the F1 Academy environment and further prepared her for a full-time campaign in the series.
Countryman will now return to F1 Academy for her debut full season in 2026 with ART Grand Prix, competing in the Haas F1-supported entry. In parallel with her F1 Academy commitments, she is also set to tackle a dual campaign in USF2000, continuing her development across both American and international single-seater pathways.