PREMA announces that Mathilda Paatz will join the team's F1 ACADEMY operation for the upcoming season. Paatz will be the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team™ representative on the 2026 grid and will join the team's Driver Academy programme.
A 17-year-old German racer, Paatz is currently racing in the Formula 4 CEZ Championship, where she achieved a podium finish.
Having achieved positive results in karting at the national level, she went international in 2022, taking part in the Junior Karting Sprint Cup at the FIA Motorsport Games. For 2023, she raced in the WSK circuit and made her FIA Karting World Championship debut. In both years, Paatz was a Girls on Track – Rising Stars program finalist.
Transitioning to car racing, she joined the F4 French Championship in 2024 for her rookie season. In 2025, she undertook a full programme beginning with the Formula Winter Series, and entered the F4 CEZ Championship in addition to outings in the Italian and E4 championships.
The potential on display allowed her to be selected as a wild-card in the F1 ACADEMY series at Montreal.
RENE ROSIN - TEAM PRINCIPAL
“Mathilda has made impressive progress throughout her early career, and we are delighted to have her on board for the 2026 season. We have already started working together. Our goal is to help her fulfil her full potential, support her career and achieve good results. We look forward to what we will be able to achieve together this season."
MATHILDA PAATZ
“I’m really proud to be representing Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team in F1 ACADEMY next year. This is something I’ve worked incredibly hard for and my focus now is on preparing for the season ahead. There will be lots to learn, including several new circuits, but I feel confident knowing I have so much support from Aston Martin Aramco and PREMA Racing. I had a great first day at the AMRTC in Silverstone meeting so many incredible people from the Aston Martin Aramco team. I immediately felt at home and everybody was very welcoming. I couldn’t be happier and I can’t wait to get racing!”