Bättig makes Wild Card statement with Silverstone Practice benchmark

Chiara Bättig delivered an assured opening statement on her F1 ACADEMY debut weekend at Silverstone, topping Practice as a Wild Card driver and immediately placing herself in the conversation ahead of Qualifying.

Bättig strikes late after Hitech wait

It was a composed start in unfamiliar machinery, particularly given the limited running window. For broader context on the series’ Silverstone weekend, see our F1 ACADEMY Silverstone 2026 weekend guide, which outlines the structure of the event and what makes this round significant.

“I'm happy to get a good start,” Bättig said. “There are still a lot of things that I have to improve. It was my first time driving in this car, so it's very different to what I'm used to. It's heavier braking, the steering is heavier and there’s overall more grip in the tyre. I think it is a good step for a strong weekend.”

Adapting from British F4 experience

Bättig has recent Silverstone form, having scored a podium there in British F4, but she stressed that the differences between the two Formula 4-level cars demand a revised approach. The braking load, steering weight and tyre grip have already forced her to recalibrate, and that process will become more demanding as the weekend develops.

Qualifying brings a moving target

The next challenge is Qualifying, where track evolution is expected to be significant. The morning session was affected by dusty conditions, while Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 running before Qualifying should increase grip and raise cornering and braking performance.

“It's just maximising all the track,” Bättig explained. “Maximising all the corner speed, especially through Maggotts and Becketts. There's a lot of straights, you just need to prep everything very well and prepared early. There’s going to be a huge step in grip probably because the track is really dirty.”

She added that her preparation included simulator work with grip changes, acknowledging that she has not previously experienced the track after F2 or F3 running.

Expectations will naturally rise after such a strong Practice result, but Bättig remained measured. “We had a good Free Practice,” she said. “If we improve on the things we have to improve, I think we'll be looking strong.”