EMMA FELBERMAYR Stays With Rodin, PAYTON WESTCOTT Joins Prema for F1 Academy

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February 9, 2026

GRRL! SUMMARY:

  • EMMA FELBERMAYR locks down her second F1 Academy campaign with Rodin Motorsport, now sporting official Audi F1 Team branding through 2026. The 19-year-old Austrian proved her worth as a single-seater rookie by securing 10th in the standings with three top-five finishes, including that breakthrough Montreal victory that showed she belongs at this level.
  • PAYTON WESTCOTT earned her full-season shot after a stellar F1 Academy debut in Las Vegas, where she immediately delivered a sixth-place finish in her first race with the Hitech wildcard entry. That performance was enough to land her at powerhouse Prema with Mercedes-AMG backing and coaching from development driver Doriane Pin – talk about hitting the ground running.
  • Both drivers represent the new generation pushing through the junior formula pipeline, with Westcott showing particular promise after her recent Formula Trophy race win and steady improvement in UAE4. Meanwhile, Felbermayr’s connection to Audi’s motorsport legacy – name-dropping legends like Michele Mouton and Rahel Frey – signals the kind of institutional support that can actually move careers forward rather than just provide photo opportunities.

UPCOMING:

  • F1 Academy 2026 season with Audi and Mercedes backing
  • European Le Mans Series LMP2 campaign for Westcott

LINKS TO RACER'S PROFILE PAGES:

GRRL! summary based upon reporting by Ida Wood originally appearing on formulascout.com