PUMA announces 2026 F1 Academy driver after impressive 2025 stand-in performance

PUMA has announced Rachel Robertson, who took part in the all-female racing series round in Las Vegas in 2025, as its full-time F1 Academy driver for 2026.

Robertson began competitive karting in 2022 and went on to compete in the British Kart Championships within a year of starting. The Scottish driver was selected at the end of 2024 to drive with Radical Racing Rebels in the 2025 Radical Cup UK, in which she finished third overall in the championship.

After taking part in the F1 Academy Rookie Test in Navarra in September 2025, she secured a one-off race in the Susie Wolff-led series to stand in for the injured Aiva Anagnositadis in the TAG Heuer car. The 18-year-old finished fourth on her debut, which is the highest result for a replacement or wildcard driver in F1 Academy.

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining F1 Academy with PUMA for 2026,” Robertson said.

“It’s been an amazing journey to get here, just three years ago I was coming off my novice kart plates, having only got into the sport after persuading my dad to take me indoor rental karting.

“So much hard work has gone into this from my family and so many amazing people, and I’m hugely grateful for everything. I love that PUMA is the fastest sports brand in the world and that it represents being brave and true to yourself. That's exactly what I want to be this year.”

The 2026 F1 Academy season will begin with the first round in Shanghai, China, on 13-15 March. The season will comprise seven rounds in six countries, across three continents, and will make its debut at Silverstone. Similar to the previous two seasons, all of the rounds will take place during Formula 1 race weekends.