Payton Westcott to Race as Visit Las Vegas’ Wild Card in the F1 Academy Season Finale
- PWR Racing
- Nov 12
- 2 min read
12 November 2025 – Sixteen-year-old American racing driver Payton Westcott will join the grid for the F1 Academy season finale at the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025, competing as the Visit Las Vegas Wild Card entry.
Representing her home country on one of the biggest stages in motorsport, Payton will take to the track in a special Las Vegas–themed livery and race suit, celebrating the city’s energy, creativity, and status as a global hub for sports and entertainment.
“I’m so proud to be racing as the F1 Academy Wild Card driver in Las Vegas — especially as an American,” said Payton. “It’s incredibly special to be part of this moment on home turf. I’m hugely grateful to F1 Academy and Visit Las Vegas for the opportunity. To be racing on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, under the lights, is a dream come true.”
This announcement marks another major milestone in Payton’s rapid rise through the ranks of international single-seater racing. In 2024, she was selected for the Champions of the Future Academy Program supported by F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive initiative, before going on to achieve strong results in the Formula Winter Series, Italian F4, and E4 Championships, earning multiple class wins and podiums throughout her debut European season.
Her selection for the F1 Academy Rookie Test earlier this year further demonstrated her potential and progression within the F1 Academy pipeline — a journey now coming full circle as she makes her official series debut on home soil.
The Las Vegas round will be a landmark moment as F1 Academy becomes the first all-female single-seater support series to race on the Las Vegas Strip, running as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend under the dazzling city lights.
About Payton Westcott Payton Westcott (b. 2009) is an American racing driver from California currently competing in European Formula 4 championships. Since making her international debut in 2024, she has established herself as one of the most promising young female talents in motorsport, combining technical skill, racecraft, and a strong work ethic.
