Mercedes announces Doriane Pin's successor in the F1 Academy

The grid of the F1 Academy is gradually filling up. Mercedes Benz is the latest team to announce its driver for the 2026 season. It's 16-year-old Payton Westcott, who notably competed this year in Italian F4. While PREMA will operate the car de Westcott, she will continue to race in Italian F4, where she finished 48th in the championship.

“I am delighted to be joining the Mercedes family for the 2026 F1 Academy season.”"That's great," the American woman rejoiced. "This is an incredible team, driven by passion, determination, and a constant pursuit of excellence. It's a fantastic opportunity to work with such a talented group of people dedicated to the development of young drivers."

"I'm looking forward to discovering new circuits throughout the season and continuing to develop my skills, both on and off the track." continues the 16-year-old pilot. “Each race weekend will be an opportunity to push my limits, refine my driving, and gain consistency. I am motivated to make the most of this adventure and take another important step in my career.”

Payton Westcott had already made a first appearance in F1 Academy thanks to a wild card in Las Vegas, with a sixth place finish in Race 1 as the highlight. “We know Payton is a rookie and we are approaching the season with realistic ambitions, but it’s a challenge she understands and fully accepts.” assures Gwen Lagrue, Mercedes driver development advisor. “At just 16 years old, Payton has already demonstrated both maturity and strong performance. His results in Italian F4 and Euro 4 in 2025, as well as his recent performances in Formula 4 in the United Arab Emirates, highlight not only his speed, but also his ability to adapt quickly to highly competitive environments.”

Doriane Pin in support at Mercedes

“The 2026 season will be intense for Payton. Alongside the F1 Academy, she will continue to race in Italian F4 in order to further develop her racing sense, technical understanding and overall experience. continued the Frenchman. We We believe this dual program will accelerate her progress and provide a solid foundation for her long-term single-seater ambitions. We look forward to supporting her throughout this key stage of her journey with us.

Payton Westcott will also benefit from the valuable advice of Dorian PinThe reigning champion, recently promoted to development driver at Mercedes, will have a mentoring and advisory role for her successor. “Payton has the motivation and mindset to make the most of this opportunity with Mercedes in the F1 Academy,” analysis by Doriane Pin, who will return to endurance racing by participating in theELMS with the #30 Oreca of Team Duqueine in LMP2 Pro/Am. "She has already shown that she is a promising talent with a lot of room for improvement. We are all eager to see what she will achieve this season."

“Personally, I am also very happy to support Payton throughout the season as she continues to develop in her young racing career,” Pin continues“As last year’s champion and the team’s development driver, I look forward to passing on the knowledge and experience I’ve gained, supporting and advising her, and being present at the circuits throughout the year.”

The season will begin in Shanghai on the weekend of March 15th.

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