Payton was born in 2009, in California, and quickly made her mark in motorsport. She began karting at age six and entered competitive racing when she was 12, earning notable results in the United States Pro Kart Series, California Pro Kart Challenge, and finishing third overall in the Challenge of the Americas.
Her early success led to participation in the Champions of the Future Academy Program and an F1 Academy ‘Discover Your Drive’ scholarship in 2024, which opened doors to international karting across Europe.
In 2025, Payton graduated to single-seaters, competing in the Formula Winter Series, Italian F4 Championship, and E4 Championship where she scored several podiums.
She impressed with her consistency, and a Female Trophy win in the Formula Winter Series. Payton was also the first and only female to stand at the top in the UAE Trophy series last year.
Her rapid progress earned her a Wild Card entry in the F1 Academy season finale at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2025, where she scored points with a sixth-place finish in Race 1 and showcased her potential among more experienced drivers.
In 2026, Payton will make the step up to F1 ACADEMY full-time, joining the team at seven F1 Grands Prix throughout the course of the season.
At just 16 years old, Payton has already demonstrated both maturity and strong performance. All her performances to date across multiple series' underline not only her speed but also her ability to adapt quickly to highly competitive environments.
Gwen Lagrue, Driver Development Advisor