F1 Academy has confirmed that Swedish driver Alexia Danielsson will make her series debut as the Wild Card entry for Round 5 of the 2026 season at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The 17-year-old will represent TeamViewer, the championship’s Official Partner, driving the #45 car operated by Hitech Grand Prix during the United States Grand Prix weekend.
Danielsson’s Rapid Rise Through Junior Formulas
Danielsson began her single-seater career in 2022, graduating from Aquilia Formula 1000 to the Nordic 4 Championship two years later. She claimed her maiden victory in Nordic 4 last season before switching to the Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia in 2025, where she won on debut. This year, she delivered a points-scoring rookie campaign in the F4 CEZ Championship.
Her trajectory accelerated sharply during last week’s F1 Academy Rookie Test at Navarra, where she posted the second-fastest time overall, marking her as a standout performer among the next generation of female talent.
TeamViewer “Forward Together” Livery Celebrates Women’s Communities
Danielsson’s Hitech-run entry will carry a special-edition livery designed around TeamViewer’s Forward Together campaign. The initiative highlights how formal and informal communities help women enter and advance in sports and technology roles. The car’s design features 250 inspiring women representing communities focused on:
- Leadership development
- Advancing women in technology
- Empowering the next generation in STEM
- Strengthening professional networks
- Driving greater inclusion in motorsport and automotive industries
Danielsson: “An Experience I Will Never Forget”
The Swedish teenager expressed her enthusiasm following the official announcement.
“It has been an absolutely incredible few days,” said Danielsson. “First, to be given this opportunity by McLaren and then to perform so well at the F1 ACADEMY test was more than I had dared hope for.
“And now it is also official that I will race as a Wild Card in F1 ACADEMY during the United States Grand Prix, which feels absolutely amazing. Racing at COTA in front of such a huge crowd, right in the middle of a Formula 1 weekend, will be an experience I will never forget and something I can build on going forward.”
Danielsson spoke further about the magnitude of competing during a Formula 1 race weekend.
“More than anything, I’m just really excited to get the chance to race during a Formula 1 weekend. I’ve only been to an F1 race once before, and that was at Zandvoort in the Netherlands a month ago, when McLaren announced me as one of their drivers for the Rookie Test.
“My main goal for the weekend is to learn as much as I possibly can. I’m also competing for a place on the grid for the full season next year, so if I get that opportunity, I want to be as prepared as I can be.”
F1 Academy and TeamViewer Leadership on the Partnership
Karin Fink, Head of Commercial Operations at F1 Academy, emphasized the series’ community-driven ethos.
“Motorsports has always had a strong community behind it, and this is no different at F1 ACADEMY. The drivers are supported by so many around them, so it is nice to see some of those communities that inspire change for women, both on and off the track, featured on TeamViewer’s livery. By creating spaces where women not only belong but also have the opportunity to engage and share knowledge, we are able to empower more women to advance, no matter the industry.”
Faith Wheller, VP of Brand and Sports Partnerships at TeamViewer, highlighted the evolution of the company’s campaign.
“Building on our campaign last year where we brought visibility to role models, this year we wanted to do something just as important to helping women advance. Forward Together highlights the need for communities and the role they play in our careers.
“The opportunity to support a young talent like Alexia in her F1 ACADEMY debut while also featuring many women who have supported the next generation in other industries is why this livery is so important. We look forward to being in Austin this October to support Alexia in person.”
Austin Debut Sets Stage for 2027 Aspirations
Danielsson’s Wild Card appearance at COTA serves a dual purpose: gaining invaluable experience in the F1 Academy machinery on a world stage and auditioning for a full-time seat in the 2027 season. With the series’ growing alignment with Formula 1 weekends, the Austin round offers maximum exposure for the rising star and the Forward Together message.
