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Chiara Bättig will make her F1 ACADEMY debut at Silverstone after being confirmed as the Wild Card entry for Round 3 of the 2026 season, placing one of Switzerland’s most promising young racers into a high-profile seat on one of motorsport’s most recognisable stages.
The 16-year-old will drive the #6 car for series Official Partner Wella Professionals, carrying a bespoke red livery created around the brand’s “Make It You” campaign. The design is intended to underline confidence and female empowerment within the F1 ACADEMY paddock, adding a strong visual identity to Bättig’s first appearance in the championship.
For Bättig, the timing is significant. Silverstone is not just the venue for her debut; it is also a circuit where she has already shown form this season in British F4, having taken third place in the reverse grid Race 2. That recent podium gives her arrival added competitive weight, even if the Wild Card format remains a major test against drivers already embedded in the category.
Her opportunity also lands amid wider debate around the role of F1 ACADEMY in the development pathway for female drivers, a subject explored recently in Katherine Legge’s sharp critique of women’s racing progression. Bättig’s Silverstone outing will therefore be watched not only as a debut, but as another data point in how the series showcases emerging talent.
Bättig arrives with a compact but notable racing résumé. She is a three-time Swiss Karting Champion in OK Junior and was selected as an F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE karter in the Champions of the Future Academy Program International Series, where she finished runner-up in the OK-N Senior category in 2025.
That same year, she joined the Red Bull Junior Team and moved into single-seaters, recording six top-10 finishes in her first campaign in the F4 Saudi Arabian Championship. She then added a maiden podium in the 2026 Formula Winter Series before continuing her season in British F4.
“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. “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.”
Alongside backing the Wild Card entry, Wella Professionals will launch a multi-day activation at Silverstone, combining beauty, sport and culture through immersive experiences inside the F1 ACADEMY paddock.
Marlene Lotter, Senior Vice President, Global Professional Brands at Wella Company, said the partnership is intended to extend beyond branding. “Our partnership with F1 ACADEMY goes beyond sponsorship - it’s about creating visibility for ambition and individuality at a defining moment for women in sport. Silverstone allows us to bring that vision to life at scale, connecting beauty with confidence, performance and cultural relevance in a completely new way.”
Ciara is a Dublin native, award-winning film producer, podcaster and writer with 20 years of storytelling experience. A lifelong Leinster and Ireland rugby fan, she turned her attention to the grid after moving to Berlin and co-founding Formula Live Pulse. Now, she applies her producer’s brain to Formula 1, navigating the highs of Oscar Piastri’s rise and the unique stress of being an adopted Ferrari fan. She loves talking and talking about F1, if you give her the chance!
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