PAYTON WESTCOTT Gets Wild Card Shot at F1 Academy Vegas Under the Lights

November 12, 2025

• Sixteen-year-old PAYTON WESTCOTT scores the Wild Card entry for F1 Academy’s Las Vegas finale, becoming the second American to get this shot in 2025. The Californian earned her spot after leading the afternoon session at F1 Academy’s inaugural rookie test in Spain, where she clocked the third-fastest time overall—proof that when given equal equipment, talent rises to the surface.
• Her 2025 campaign tells the familiar story of a promising driver navigating the brutal learning curve of European racing. While Italian F4 served up more humble pie than podiums (only two top-20s all season), her Formula Winter Series debut with Van Amersfoort Racing showed real pace with seven top-20 finishes and a best of P13 at Aragon—respectable numbers for a rookie in cutthroat competition.
• Visit Las Vegas is backing WESTCOTT’s Vegas debut in what could be a statement moment for American women in motorsports. She’s chasing ESMEE KOSTERMAN’s points-scoring wild card performance at Zandvoort, joining a growing list that includes COURTNEY CRONE, who parlayed her Miami wild card into a full-time seat. Sometimes all you need is one weekend to change everything—and Vegas under the lights is the perfect stage for it.

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