Teenage Swede lands Austin Wild Card berth after eye-catching Rookie Test

F1 ACADEMY has confirmed that Alexia Danielsson will represent series Official Partner TeamViewer as the Wild Card entry for Round 5 of the 2026 season in Austin. The 17-year-old Swede will make her debut behind the wheel of the #45 TeamViewer car, operated by Hitech, during the United States Grand Prix weekend at the Circuit of the Americas.

Danielsson's route to the seat has been swift and impressive. She started racing single-seaters in 2022, stepping up from Aquilia Formula 1000 to Nordic 4 two years later and scoring her first victory in that series last season. She won on debut in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia in 2025 before delivering a points-scoring rookie campaign in the F4 CEZ Championship this year.

Her momentum continued at last week's F1 ACADEMY Rookie Test in Navarra, where she was one of the standout performers, claiming the second-fastest time overall. That form, combined with her selection by McLaren for the test, set the stage for her Austin opportunity.

"It has been an absolutely incredible few days," said Danielsson. "First, to be given this opportunity by McLaren and then to perform so well at the F1 ACADEMY test was more than I had dared hope for. And now it is also official that I will race as a Wild Card in F1 ACADEMY during the United States Grand Prix, which feels absolutely amazing. Racing at COTA in front of such a huge crowd, right in the middle of a Formula 1 weekend, will be an experience I will never forget and something I can build on going forward."

The youngster, who has attended only one F1 race in person — Zandvoort a month ago when McLaren announced her as one of their Rookie Test drivers — is clear-eyed about her objectives for the weekend. "My main goal for the weekend is to learn as much as I possibly can. I'm also competing for a place on the grid for the full season next year, so if I get that opportunity, I want to be as prepared as I can be."

Special livery celebrates communities backing women's progression

The #45 car will sport a special edition livery celebrating TeamViewer's Forward Together campaign, which highlights how formal and informal communities help women enter and advance in sports and tech roles. The design features 250 inspiring women representing communities focused on leadership development, advancing women in technology, empowering the next generation in STEM, strengthening professional networks, and driving greater inclusion in motorsport and automotive industries.

Karin Fink, Head of Commercial Operations at F1 ACADEMY, welcomed the initiative: "Motorsports has always had a strong community behind it, and this is no different at F1 ACADEMY. The drivers are supported by so many around them, so it is nice to see some of those communities that inspire change for women, both on and off the track, featured on TeamViewer's livery. By creating spaces where women not only belong but also have the opportunity to engage and share knowledge, we are able to empower more women to advance, no matter the industry."

Faith Wheller, VP of Brand and Sports Partnerships at TeamViewer, added: "Building on our campaign last year where we brought visibility to role models, this year we wanted to do something just as important to helping women advance. Forward Together highlights the need for communities and the role they play in our careers. The opportunity to support a young talent like Alexia in her F1 ACADEMY debut while also featuring many women who have supported the next generation in other industries is why this livery is so important. We look forward to being in Austin this October to support Alexia in person."