WE all have that dream, right?
Whether it is a professional footballer, pop star, darts sensation, Olympic gold medallist, Wimbledon winner, dancer, actor or anything really.
That aspiration to be in the elite minority who reach the pinnacle of their chosen field. And for Rachel Robertson, she is no different.
However, her meteoric rise in her pursuit of being an F1 star is really quite special.
Having only began competitive karting in 2022, she’s now landed an F1 Academy Spot and will represent global brand Puma.
In the space of four years the 18-year-old from Edinburgh has gone from karting to racing in the all-female series.
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In last year’s Las Vegas season finale, she earned a P4 finish in Race 1 in a one-off appearance for the British team and now she’s ready to take another major step up for the upcoming season.
She said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining F1 ACADEMY with PUMA for 2026.
“It’s been an amazing journey to get here, just three years ago I was coming off my novice kart plates, having only got into the sport after persuading my dad to take me indoor rental karting.
“So much hard work has gone into this from my family and so many amazing people, and I’m hugely grateful for everything.
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“I love that PUMA is the fastest sports brand in the world and that it represents being brave and true to yourself. That’s exactly what I want to be this year.”
Robertson becomes only the second Scot – after Chloe Grant – to earn a full-time seat in the series.
She’s going to continue her studies of Motorsport Engineering at college alongside the Academy as she strives to land her ultimate goal – Formula 1.
Fellow Scot Susie Wolff is a role model for the teen while she has a big name in her corner in the shape of Gabby Logan.
The hugely popular TV presenter backed the racer with £15,000 as part of the inaugural “Gabby Grant” – which proved pivotal as she revealed all to the Daily Mail.
On Susie, she stated: “I would love to get to Susie’s level. What’s great about her is that she has raced, herself.
“A lot of people just don’t have that edge and understanding. She has been through karting and driving an F1 car.
“She brings a lot of knowledge, and knows how it feels. She’s not just a businesswoman, she knows how to drive, to go though the ranks. That’s something I really look up to.”
On Gabby, she added: ‘I met her in April, when this was really just a pipe dream.
“I am incredibly grateful to her and her husband Kenny Logan.
“They were always fully on-board with it. Gabby has helped me first-hand to get to where I am today.”
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In 2024, the Scot achieved multiple top ten results in the British Kart Championships and was the only female driver to compete in the Senior Rotax class.
She beat more than 50 other young British drivers to earn a factory drive with Radical Motorsport for the 2025 Radical Cup UK season.
She went on to finish with a top-three place in the overall standings.
Away from the circuit she is like any normal teenager.
She posts regularly on her social media including snaps of being out for dinner, attending the gym and spending time with family and friends.
However, It’s getting to crunch time with the fourth F1 Academy season set to kick-off this week.
It begins in Shanghai, featuring seven rounds, with all rounds taking place in support of the Formula 1 World Championship.
Other locations include Jeddah, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort, Austin and finally Las Vegas.
Her father, Colin, is buzzing for his daughter and her participation.
He hopes the F1 Academy will be the start of something even more special, hailing the news as a “real pinch me moment”.
He told the BBC: “It’s amazing news, a culmination of a lot of hard work in a short space of time.
“Hopefully the F1 Academy will be the start of something even more special.”
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