A New Talent Hits the Silverstone Track

The F1 ACADEMY has officially announced 16-year-old Chiara Battig as the Wild Card entry for Round 3 of the 2026 season. The announcement marks a significant milestone as the all-female series makes its highly anticipated debut at the legendary Silverstone circuit.

Battig will be behind the wheel of the #6 car, operated by Hitech. In a striking visual representation of her partnership, the car will feature a bespoke red livery from Wella Professionals. The design is inspired by the "Make It You" campaign, which focuses on celebrating confidence and female empowerment within the racing world.

A Rapid Rise Through the Ranks

Battig comes into the series with an impressive pedigree. A former powerhouse in national-level karting, she became the youngest Swiss Karting Champion in the OK-Junior category and made history as the first driver to secure that title for three consecutive years. Her success continued into 2025, where she finished as the runner-up in the OK-N Senior category of the Champions of the Future Academy Program International Series.

Her transition to single-seaters was equally impactful. After a standout performance in the Red Bull Driver Search, she was selected as a Red Bull Junior. Since then, Battig has secured six top-10 finishes in the F4 Saudi Arabian Championship and achieved her first podium in the 2026 Formula Winter Series. She is currently competing in British F4, where she has already proven her prowess at Silverstone with a third-place finish in Race 2.

Voices from the Paddock

Expressing her excitement, Battig stated: "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. 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."

The partnership is also a strategic move for Wella Company. Marlene Lotter, Senior Vice President of Global Professional Brands, emphasized the deeper meaning of the collaboration: "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."