Payton Westcott joins Van Amersfoort Racing for multi-program in F4

Payton Westcott, a F1 Academy Discover Your Drive scholarship recipient in the inaugural Champions Of The Future Academy Program, will make her F4 debut in 2025 with Van Amersfoort Racing, competing in a multiple program that includes Italian F4, Euro4 Championship, and Formula Winter Series.

Payton Westcott is set to make her F4 racing debut in 2025 with a multi-program that will include Italian F4, Euro4 Championship and Formula Winter Series with Van Amersfoort Racing, the Dutch team announced.

Stepping up from karting, the 15-year-old US American has already started a testing program in F4 machinery mainly across Italy, and is set to make her first start in race cars in the highly competitive Formula Winter Series in February, as the Iberian-based series continues to develop into one of the top platforms for young F4 tallents globally, preparing their main summer programs.

Westcott will be the first full-time entry in Italian F4 since 2023, when Victoria Blokhina, Aurelia Nobels and Tina Hausmann raced in the series. In 2024, Lia Block and Bianca Bustamante made a one-off appearance in Monza, but no female drivers raced full-time for the first time since 2018.

“I am extremely excited to be starting my 2025 rookie season with Van Amersfoort Racing", Westcott commented. "I am looking forward to providing solid results for the team!”

Payton started competing in karting just 3 years ago but soon climbed up the ranks in the US, winning KA100 events and contested the highly competitive SKUSA SuperNationals.

In 2024, she was one of the female talents selected as part of the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive scholarship, as she joined the newly-launched Champions Of The Future Academy Program in the OK-N Senior class.

Westcott therefore had the opportunity to hone her skills in among some of the world's top karters in Europe and scored a top ten finish in Cremona's second final.

Towards the end of the season, she started testing F4 machinery in preparation for her step up in 2025, which will see the American joining top-team Van Amersfoort Racing in a busy schedule.

“We’re delighted to welcome Payton to our team for 2025", VAR CEO Rob Niessink added. "Her achievements in karting, combined with the dedication she’s shown during testing with us, make her a fantastic addition to our driver lineup."

"We’re confident that with our guidance and support, she will continue to develop as a driver and achieve great results throughout the season.”