Gatorade® has partnered with F1 ACADEMY™ until 2030, becoming the series’ first official sports drink sponsor. The deal supports young female drivers with hydration science and global exposure.
16-year-old Mathilda Paatz will debut a Gatorade-branded car and suit.
The partnership begins at the Canadian Grand Prix, where 16-year-old Mathilda Paatz will debut a Gatorade-branded car and suit.
A key part of the partnership is support from the Gatorade Sport Science Institute (GSSI), giving F1 ACADEMY drivers access to expert hydration plans, performance testing, and research designed for motorsport. F1 is highly demanding—drivers can lose up to 4 kg in sweat during one race – making hydration essential.
“Partnering with F1 ACADEMY is a powerful moment for Gatorade,” said Umi Patel, PepsiCo’s Vice President of Marketing Innovation and Hydration Brands. “This partnership allows us to bring our decades of sports science expertise directly to the next generation of elite drivers, 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.”
The deal also supports Gatorade’s “Fuel Tomorrow” goal to give 2.5 million teens access to sports by 2030, helping break barriers and inspire young women in racing.
Starting in 2026, Gatorade will launch a full performance-focused partnership with F1 ACADEMY, which includes:
- Sponsoring a young driver with a custom Gatorade-branded car and race suit.
- Running hydration research tailored to young female drivers.
- Offering science-backed hydration and nutrition support to boost performance and recovery.
Mathilda Paatz, debuting this weekend in the Gatorade car, said: “To now be racing on a Formula 1 weekend, with fans around the world watching, is a dream come true. I’m especially proud to partner with Gatorade, a brand that’s championed athletes at every level and is helping pave the way for the next generation of women in motorsport.”
Susie Wolff, F1 ACADEMY’s Managing Director, praised the effort: “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.”
This announcement builds on PepsiCo’s global partnership with Formula 1 through 2030, reinforcing its push to grow the sport and support future female F1 talent.
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