Photo: Aston Martin F1
Two more drivers have joined F1 Academy’s 2026 grid, both with Formula 1 team support.
Prema has signed Mathilda Paatz, who will don Aston Martin’s colours in the all-female Formula 4 series as she becomes a member of the ‘Aston Martin F1 Driver Academy’ launched this year.
She is the second member of an academy seperate to the team’s main driver development programme, which carried both of its members into F1 reserve driver roles.
“I’m really proud to be representing Aston Martin,” said Paatz. “This is something I’ve worked incredibly hard for and my focus now is on preparing for the season ahead. There will be lots to learn, including several new circuits, but I feel confident knowing I have so much support from Aston Martin and Prema.
“I had a great first day at the Aston Martin Racing Technology Centre in Silverstone meeting so many incredible people from the team.”
The 17-year-old German was 20th in French F4 last year as a rookie, then eighth in F4 Central European Zone with a podium and 31st in the Formula Winter Series this year. She also did four rounds across Italian F4 and E4, and debuted in F1 Academy as a wildcard driver in 2025.
“We’re delighted to have [Paatz] on board for the 2026 season,” said Prema’s team principal Rene Rosin. “We have already started working together. Our goal is to help her fulfil her full potential, support her career and achieve good results.”
Aston Martin revealed that Paatz was signed to race the Prema-run F1 Academy entry it would support “after excelling in a rigorous four-driver evaluation programme” at Mugello in F4 cars. Each driver had a day driving, and Paatz was fastest.
That was overseen by Nuno Pinto, now racing director of Aston Martin’s academy and long-time coach of the team’s race driver Lance Stroll. Paatz’s performance prompted Pinto to sign her to the academy.
Major women’s magazine Cosmopolitan was involved in announcing Paatz, and drinks brand PepsiCo has gone from revealing two weeks ago its Gatorade brand would be primary sponsor of ART Grand Prix signing Lisa Billard‘s F1 Academy car in 2026 to confirming yesterday it would sponsor the Mercedes-AMG F1 team too.
Yesterday also featured ART GP revealing Billard’s first team-mate, Jade Jacquet, who will have F1 patronage as she joins the Williams Racing Driver Academy (WRDA).
The 16-year-old Frenchwoman came 24th in French F4 this year as a rookie, and replaces Lia Block who returns to rallying after two years in F1 Academy and Williams’ ranks.
Sven Smeets, Williams’ sporting director, commented: “Jade has made rapid progress in her motorsport career and has strong potential for the future, already demonstrating her ability to learn and adapt in her transition to single-seaters.
“As a member of the WRDA, we’ll be working closely with her to nurture her development both on and off the track.”
Ex-Indy Nxt driver Carmen Jorda will become head of Alpine’s F1 Academy involvement in 2026, mentoring the driver it supports.