Chiara Battig announced as Wella Professionals-backed Wild Card entry for F1 ACADEMY Silverstone round

Chiara Battig has been confirmed as the Wild Card entry for Round 3 of the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season, with the all-female series set to make its debut at Silverstone.

The 16-year-old will drive the #6 operated by Hitech car, representing the series’ Official Partner Wella Professionals with her livery featuring the bespoke red Wella design. The livery is inspired by their “Make It You” campaign, which celebrates confidence and female empowerment in the F1 ACADEMY paddock.

Competing in national-level karting events until 2025, Battig became the youngest Swiss Karting Champion in the OK-Junior category and was the first driver to win the title in three consecutive years. The former F1 ACADEMY DISCOVER YOUR DRIVE karter also finished runner-up in the OK-N Senior category of the 2025 Champions of the Future Academy Program International Series.

A standout performance driving single-seaters for the first-time in the Red Bull Driver Search saw her selected as a Red Bull Junior that same year. The Swiss racer then claimed six top-10 finishes in the F4 Saudi Arabian Championship and followed that up with a maiden podium finish in the 2026 Formula Winter Series.

Battig is currently racing in British F4 and has already taken a podium finish at Silverstone, finishing third in Race 2.

"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 Battig. "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."

Marlene Lotter, Senior Vice President, Global Professional Brands at Wella Company added: “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."