F1 ACADEMY partners with Gatorade as Mathilda Paatz announced as Montreal Wild Card

F1 ACADEMY have announced a multi-year partnership with Gatorade, which sees the world’s leading sports drinks brand become an Official Partner of the series until 2030.

Committed to breaking down barriers that prevent young people from accessing sports through its Fuel Tomorrow Platform, F1 ACADEMY drivers will gain access to the Gatorade Sport Science Institute’s industry-leading expertise, including personalised hydration strategies, performance testing, and cutting-edge research to help them perform at their peak.

From the 2026 season, Gatorade will deliver backed-by-science hydration solutions to optimise driver performance and recovery and conduct bespoke hydration research to understand the unique hydration needs of young female drivers and support a driver on the grid with a bespoke Gatorade livery and race suit.

In addition, German driver Mathilda Paatz will join the grid this weekend in Montreal, with Gatorade sponsoring the Wild Card entry. The 16-year-old racer is currently competing in the F4 CEZ Championship, scoring a podium finish at the Red Bull Ring last month.

LIDS_6925_-_F1A_MONTREAL_RACE-_JUN_25_-_lids_harper_for_parcfermeco.jpg — Mathilda Paatz will join the F1 ACADEMY grid this weekend in Montreal

Speaking on the announcement, Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 ACADEMY said: “We’re proud to welcome Gatorade to the F1 ACADEMY family. What has impressed me most about Gatorade is how seriously they’re investing in our drivers, not just as athletes, but as individuals with incredible potential.

“This isn’t a surface-level sponsorship, it’s a deeply hands-on partnership that brings world-class hydration science and performance expertise directly to our paddock. With the world-class expertise of Gatorade not only will our drivers be better equipped to perform at their peak, but they’ll also gain knowledge and tools that will serve them throughout their careers.”

Umi Patel, PepsiCo’s Vice President of Marketing Innovation and Hydration Brands, said: “Partnering with F1 ACADEMY is a powerful moment for Gatorade. Motorsport is one of the most physically demanding sports on the planet, where optimum hydration can be the difference between winning and losing. This partnership allows us to bring our decades of sports science expertise directly to the next generation of female drivers.

“By supporting young women at the start of their motorsport journey, we’re not just setting them up for success at such a pivotal part of their career, we are encouraging them to see what is in them and fuel their drive and ambition for success. That’s what our Fuel Tomorrow initiative is all about.”

Jane Wakely, PepsiCo’s Chief Consumer and Marketing Officer added: “At PepsiCo, we believe in the power of platforms and partnerships to shape the future of sport – and to do so with purpose. This partnership with F1 ACADEMY and our wider worldwide partnership with F1, one of the world’s fastest growing sports, is a bold step forward in our mission to fuel fandom, create culture-driving moments and incredible brand experiences on a global scale.”