‘It's a comeback for me as the wildcard’: F1 ACADEMY’s Mathilda Paatz on Montreal and the rest of the season

This week has seen the return of the F1 ACADEMY cars on track as testing takes place at the iconic Silverstone race track, and for one driver, its the chance to push herself to the absolute max, ahead of the season's next race in Montreal.

At 10 years old, German-born Mathilda Paatz was already beginning her karting career, and now, just seven years later, she's landed at the top of her game, with a seat in F1 Academy, driving for Aston Martin Aramco and PREMA Racing.

"Working with the team at PREMA, and Aston Martin Aramco, [it's] just a pretty amazing experience," the 17-year-old tells me over the phone ahead of Silverstone testing.

I first met Mathilda back in November when she was announced as Aston Martin's Aramco's driver for the 2026 F1 ACADEMY season, and since then she hasn't stopped, with a successful first weekend race in Shanghai, that saw her finish just outside the points.

It's a pace she's used to. Since her debut in 2020, she competed in the 2020 ADAC Kart Masters - Mini category, the 2022 ADAC Kart Masters - Ladies Cup (which she came third in overall) and went onto claim four wins in the 2025 E4 Championship. But it was her performance as the Wildcard at last year's F1 ACADEMY race in Montreal that really catapulted her to the next level and then saw her signed as Aston Martin Aramco's F1 ACADEMY driver.

A year on from her debut in Montreal, now Mathilda is in a reflective mood and ready to "step up" her game. Ahead of the next race of the season (mark your calendars for 22 to 24 May), we caught up with Matilda to hear her exact game plan for the weekend, and just how she really felt about Shanghai (spoiler: Mickey Mouse was a highlight).

Cosmopolitan UK: We've had one racing weekend so far this season in Shanghai, how did you find it?

Mathilda Paatz: I've never been that far away from home. Going to China was really a great experience. I also got to see the culture outside from the track, so that was pretty amazing. I've been learning so much on track, and really working together with the team at PREMA, and with Aston Martin Aramco, [it's] just a pretty amazing experience.

During one of the races you finished just outside the points, how did that feel?

Well, we came from the back due to the Quali issue, but we managed to find ourselves almost into the points, which is still a pretty good result. We showed we have the pace to earn points, so now from Montreal we'll be pushing for that. But there's still a lot of positives to take, we showed amazing race craft, overtaking lots of cars and having great battles, so yeah [it was] still a pretty good race.

You touched on it a little bit, but what did you learn from that first weekend?

Oh my god, so much. It was about keeping calm, just staying focused and doing the best I can. It wasn't really in my hands what happened in Quali, but after we just stayed cool and managed to still bring out good results, it was really nice.

Keeping calm, how do you do it? Do you have any special techniques?

It's a secret! It's just about keeping a positive mindset and going over your strengths and trying to stay focused on what you want to do and not being focused on the results and then it will come along.

I first met you back in November last when you were announced Aston Martin Aramco's F1 ACADEMY driver. What have you enjoyed most about this process? And what's been the most challenging?

What I've enjoyed the most is developing myself on track. I've developed so much on the race craft and also working together with the team and seeing myself progress. And then most challenging, we didn't have the perfect start into the weekend [in Shanghai], but we turned it around and I think that was a bit challenging, but with the help of everyone, we did it.

I'm guessing you met a lot of fans for the first time in Shanghai, was there a consistent message you heard from them during that weekend?

What I heard the most was "Mathilda can I take a picture?" But I got really nice messages about like being welcomed into the ACADEMY and wishing me good luck. [Also] really nice messages throughout the weekend to keep pushing, that we showed a really good pace and they can't wait for me to get back on track. So, really encouraging messages.

Is it still weird having people ask you to take a photo?

I think in the beginning yes, but actually if I think about it, it's actually so cool because 'what do you mean they think I'm such a cool person they want to have me in their gallery?' So in the end I just enjoyed it and I love talking to them. I've got some cute little gifts and that's so awesome because people spend hours doing those for me and I just feel so special and it's really nice.

What did they make? Were there friendship bracelets?

Yes I've got bracelets. I also got plushies, also a drawing and it's so awesome and it literally melts my heart because I got a little Aston Martin Lego heart [for] on my backpack. It's on there now, it's so awesome.

Jessica Hawkins is the head of F1 ACADEMY at Aston Martin Aramco, what have you learnt from her?

She brings a lot of experience and I just try to soak up everything. What I really like is her positive, but still focused mindset. It's really helped me in the races to keep my head cool and to really focus on the goal. And on the media stuff, [when] we go to something and I'm like a bit nervous, she just encourages me and that's something which is she is really good at.

F1 ACADEMY isn't your first racing series, but what has surprised you the most about F1 ACADEMY versus the other racing series you've been in?

Well, F1 ACADEMY is such a unique series. The way you get presented is so special and with all the fans and being supported by F1 teams, all the sponsors. I got to meet Mickey Mouse in China and it was pretty fun. They really explore and push to the limit what you can do with motorsport, off and on track and that's what I really like because that's what I love, right?

Which race weekend are you most looking forward to in the calendar this year?

I think Zandvoort because it's the closest to my home. It's a two hour drive and I'll have friends and family coming along. For many of them it's the first time they'll have ever seen me really race, not even in karting, and now on such a big stage with Aston Martin Aramco and F1 ACADEMY. I feel so honoured to finally show them what I've been working on.

You're not the only rookie this season, have you guys been leaning on each other for support? Is there a rookie group chat?

We're [Natalia Granada and Payton Westcott] in a PREMA Racing rookies group chat. Natalia and I spend quite a lot of time together. But every rookie is pretty cool.

Silverstone testing is coming up, how are you feeling and what are you sort of hoping for outcome wise?

I'm feeling pretty good and don't have too high expectations. I've been working with PREMA on the simulator trying to prepare myself. I'm really glad we have those test days to get to know the car again and have knowledge of the track and work out on things we didn't have time for in Shanghai. I'm just hoping we can push ourselves to the maximum, the team, the car and myself obviously and then feel confident for the next round.

Finally, what is the game plan for Montreal?

Definitely to continue building the experience, to build my confidence and to develop myself as a driver, but as well as aiming for points. We missed out in Shanghai but we showed we have the pace for points, so definitely aiming for those. And just pretty excited to race again, we've had such a long break and I just can't wait and it's also like a comeback for me as being the Wildcard so I hope to just step up the game and show what we can do with the team.