Gatorade to support F1 Academy from 2026 as PepsiCo expands F1 deal

PepsiCo will expand its new partnership with Formula One to include F1 Academy from the 2026 season.

Contract:

• Gatorade will provide hydration solutions to the F1 Academy grid from next season
• Brand to support one of the full-time entries with a bespoke livery and racesuit
• F1 Academy drivers will gain access to expertise from the Gatorade Sport Science Institute

Context:

Gatorade is already the official partner of Formula One’s sprint races through the wider PepsiCo deal, and its connection with the series will now grow thanks to this expansion. The brand will sponsor the wild card entry of Mathilda Paatz at this weekend’s race in Canada to celebrate the partnership, similar to how Morgan Stanley supported Ava Dobson’s entry at the last round after becoming the series’ financial services partner.

Comment:

“We’re proud to welcome Gatorade to the F1 Academy family,” said Susie Wolff, F1 Academy managing director.

“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.

“With the world-class expertise of Gatorade not only will our drivers be better equipped to perform at their peak, but they’ll also gain knowledge and tools that will serve them throughout their careers.”

Coming next:

The partnership, which officially gets underway next season, will be unveiled at this weekend’s F1 Academy race in support of the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, which takes place from 13th to 15th June. The deal will run in conjunction with PepsiCo’s deal with Formula One until 2030.

Go deeper:

• More than Equal signs on as F1 Academy’s official driver performance and research partner
• F1 Academy adds Wella Group as official partner