![\"Homepage](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Homepage_Hero_2800x1600.jpg\")
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As she turns 18, Mathilda Paatz reflects on the journey that took her from karting at Michael Schumacher’s circuit in Kerpen and spending nights supporting her father at the N\u00fcrburgring to becoming an F1 ACADEMY race winner \u2013 and explains why ‘The Green Hell’ will always be ‘The Green Heaven’ to her.<\/p>\n
Mathilda Paatz heads to the closest thing she has to a home race at the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, with friends and family making the short journey from Germany to Zandvoort in the Netherlands to watch her compete in-person for the first time.<\/p>\n
It’s another milestone in a journey that began just a few hours away at Kerpen \u2013 the kart track local to her home in Cologne where Michael Schumacher first honed his craft.<\/p>\n
Schumacher showed a generation of German racing drivers what was possible. Now, as one of the country’s brightest young talents, Mathilda hopes to inspire the next generation in much the same way \u2013 though, as she explains, her biggest influence has always been even closer to home.<\/p>\n
Breakthrough<\/p>\n
Mathilda, you can already call yourself a race winner in F1 ACADEMY<\/a> \u2013 a great achievement in your rookie year. What did taking victory in the Reverse Grid race in Montr\u00e9al mean to you?<\/p>\n “It was amazing. I didn’t expect it to come so early, especially after how much we struggled in the previous round in Shanghai<\/a>. We improved so much in Qualifying, and once we were in the right position I knew our race pace was strong.<\/p>\n “To convert that into a win was incredible. Not everyone in F1 ACADEMY can call themselves a race winner, so that’s something I’m really proud of.”<\/p>\n Has it changed your belief in what\u00a0you’re\u00a0capable of\u00a0in the cockpit?<\/p>\n “Not too much. It confirmed what\u00a0I and the team\u00a0already believed. We know we have the pace and that we belong fighting at the front.<\/p>\n “Now\u00a0it’s\u00a0about staying calm, keeping\u00a0momentum\u00a0and continuing to score points.\u00a0The following round at\u00a0Silverstone was more difficult\u00a0for us, so\u00a0it’s\u00a0about\u00a0finding\u00a0a good level\u00a0of consistency.<\/p>\n “Every weekend is a new challenge, especially with circuits I haven’t raced before, so there’s still plenty\u00a0for me\u00a0to\u00a0learn.”<\/p>\n Have you got aims for the rest of the season?<\/p>\n “I would love to finish inside the top five in the championship and fight to be the highest-placed rookie at the end of the year. Another win would be amazing, especially in a Feature Race, but I’m trying to not think too far ahead.<\/p>\n “There are still things to improve. I feel really confident in race situations, but Qualifying is an area where I know I can get even stronger. If we can unlock a little more there, it’ll make a big difference.”<\/p>\n I was so tiny in the kart that I\u00a0needed\u00a0pillows so I could reach the pedals. All the other karts looked so much faster than me. But\u00a0when I went out there, I felt like an F1 driver.<\/p>\n Taking inspiration<\/p>\n Long before she was standing atop an F1 ACADEMY podium, Mathilda learned to drive at Kerpen \u2013 the same kart circuit where seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher began his illustrious career. As for any young German racing driver, Schumacher is a source of inspiration \u2013 though Mathilda explains he is not the only person she looks up to.<\/p>\n What are your strongest memories from your early karting days?<\/p>\n “There’s a small beginners’ track\u00a0at Kerpen\u00a0where you learn before\u00a0you’re\u00a0allowed onto the main circuit.<\/p>\n “I was so tiny in the kart that I\u00a0needed\u00a0pillows so I could reach the pedals. I drove around there repeatedly until one day I was finally allowed onto the main circuit with everyone else.<\/p>\n “I remember being so nervous because all the other karts looked so much faster than me. But\u00a0when I went out there, I felt like an F1 driver. I felt like\u00a0I’d\u00a0earned my place.<\/p>\n “That was the moment I completely fell in love with racing.”<\/p>\n You learned to race at Kerpen, following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher\u00a0\u2013 is\u00a0that something you were aware\u00a0of?<\/p>\n “When I first drove there,\u00a0I\u00a0didn’t\u00a0really understand\u00a0the significance of\u00a0where I was. There were just pictures of\u00a0Michael\u00a0everywhere\u00a0but I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0initially know why.<\/p>\n “But, as I got older and learned more about his story, it became\u00a0really special\u00a0\u2013 he became a hero of mine.<\/p>\n “Every time I went\u00a0to Kerpen\u00a0you could feel his spirit around the place, and it made me dream bigger.\u00a0It felt like a sign that I could be a racing driver.”<\/p>\n Is there a particular reason he was your hero?<\/p>\n “Obviously,\u00a0he’s\u00a0a fellow German, but the main reason is the way he pushed to get everything out of himself and the car.<\/p>\n “Because of my age, I\u00a0didn’t\u00a0see him race much live,\u00a0but\u00a0I’ve\u00a0watched lots of his races since and some of his performances\u00a0were incredible.<\/p>\n “He was brilliant. I just really connected to his approach and the way he changed what it meant to be a racing driver\u00a0\u2013 everything he did was\u00a0focused on\u00a0improving,\u00a0that’s\u00a0what made him so good.”<\/p>\n Every time I went\u00a0to Kerpen\u00a0you could feel Michael’s spirit around the place, and it made me dream bigger.<\/p>\n Is there anyone racing now that inspires you?<\/p>\n “Kimi Antonelli.\u00a0He’s\u00a0basically\u00a0my\u00a0age and\u00a0he’s\u00a0already in F1. What impresses me most is the way he handles everything that comes with\u00a0being in the sport,\u00a0as well as\u00a0leading the championship.<\/p>\n “Last\u00a0season\u00a0he had a lot of pressure on him and some criticism, but he came back stronger. Mentally\u00a0that’s\u00a0incredibly difficult to do.\u00a0He’s\u00a0such a calm person and just takes everything in his stride, and I think that’s really inspiring.”<\/p>\n Have you met Kimi? Has he shared any advice?<\/p>\n “I have, and\u00a0he’s\u00a0given me a\u00a0little bit\u00a0of guidance, especially around\u00a0the mentality\u00a0side of racing. People underestimate how difficult it can be to deal with the attention and everything that comes with competing at\u00a0the highest levels.<\/p>\n “He’s spoken to me about staying calm, resetting after difficult\u00a0moments\u00a0and not letting outside noise affect you.\u00a0That’s\u00a0been\u00a0really helpful.”<\/p>\n \ufeff<\/p>\n What have been the difficult moments so far in your career?<\/p>\n “Moving into Formula 4 was a huge step and I\u00a0didn’t\u00a0have as much testing as a lot of the other drivers. At the beginning I wondered if I could compete.<\/p>\n “But things changed towards the end of the\u00a0season,\u00a0and we started getting strong results. That showed me that if you keep working and\u00a0don’t\u00a0give up, things can turn around.”<\/p>\n Closer to home<\/p>\n Schumacher inspired Mathilda then, and Antonelli does now, but it’s Mathilda’s parents who have been the constant thread of support throughout \u2013 gently guiding her on and off the racetrack.<\/p>\n Racing has been in her life forever. It’s a passion which ignited as a toddler at one of motorsport’s most iconic venues.<\/p>\n We’d stay in a hotel next to the N\u00fcrburgring and my dad would tell me I had to go to sleep before his night stint, but I’d just stand at the window waiting for him to drive past late into the night.<\/p>\n How did your interest in motorsport begin?<\/p>\n “My dad had been racing for years before I was born<\/a> and from a very young age, I’d be at the track helping him however I could.<\/p>\n “Our nearest circuit to home is the N\u00fcrburgring and I’ve been going there with him for as long as I can remember.<\/p>\n “Whenever he had an endurance race there, we’d stay in a hotel next to the circuit. My dad would tell me I had to go to sleep before his night stint, but I’d just stand at the window waiting for him to drive past late into the night.<\/p>\n “When he came back to the room afterwards to get some sleep, I’d be wide awake ready to greet him \u2013 that always surprised him!<\/p>\n “Now, our roles have switched. I’ve always supported him, and now he’s my biggest supporter. He’s sacrificed a lot to help me race and to watch me compete.<\/p>\n “And then, when not at the racetrack, my mum has always been there to help me relax and to help me catch up with schoolwork.<\/p>\n “They’ve both sacrificed so much and I’m incredibly thankful for everything they’ve done.”<\/p>\n Both you and your father are racing drivers. Do you plan to compete together?<\/p>\n “It’s something we’ve talked about for a long time, and we have plans to do it at our favourite place.<\/p>\n “Once I turn 18, the plan is to get my permit to enter the N\u00fcrburgring 24 Hours so we can compete together.<\/p>\n “For me, it won’t be about the winning. It will just be a chance for us to spend some time together and have fun on track. Doing what we enjoy most together would be really special.<\/p>\n “It would really bring everything full circle. From me watching him race through the hotel window as a little girl to us racing together on one of the greatest circuits in the world.”<\/p>\n It’s important to show that German motorsport isn’t just history \u2013 that there are still young drivers coming through and exciting things happening.<\/p>\n Flying the flag<\/p>\n Focusing in on the upcoming rounds at\u00a0Zandvoort,\u00a0it’s\u00a0an opportunity for wider friends and family to see\u00a0Mathilda\u00a0racing in F1 ACADEMY\u00a0for the first time. <\/p>\n How special will the Dutch Grand Prix\u00a0weekend be? <\/p>\n “It’s\u00a0going to be amazing. <\/p>\n “It’s\u00a0one of\u00a0only\u00a0two\u00a0European races we have and\u00a0it’s\u00a0only about three hours from\u00a0my home in Cologne, so a lot of my family and friends will be able to come along. <\/p>\n “My mum will be there.\u00a0I’m\u00a0very excited\u00a0for her to see what I do. And a few of my close friends are coming over.\u00a0I’m\u00a0going to take them\u00a0around\u00a0my\u00a0F1 ACADEMY garage and show them the F1 paddock. It’s\u00a0the first time\u00a0a lot of them will\u00a0see me race\u00a0in\u00a0real life. <\/p>\n “Most of\u00a0my friends\u00a0know me as Mathilda from school or home. They\u00a0don’t\u00a0really see this side of my life. <\/p>\n “Now,\u00a0they’ll get to see me working with Aston Martin\u00a0Aramco and\u00a0PREMA, and\u00a0really see what this world is all about.” <\/p>\n A home race for you would be in Germany, but\u00a0there’s\u00a0no German round on the F1 and feeder category calendars.\u00a0What’s\u00a0your assessment on motorsport interest in Germany and,\u00a0as one of the country’s brightest young drivers,\u00a0do you feel a responsibility to help inspire the next generation\u00a0at home? <\/p>\n “Motorsport feels a bit more difficult to participate in now in Germany, but there are still so many people who care about it.\ufeff<\/p>\n “I think\u00a0it’s\u00a0important to show that German motorsport\u00a0isn’t\u00a0just history \u2013 that there are still young drivers coming through and exciting things happening. If I can help bring some of that energy back, that would make me\u00a0really happy. <\/p>\n “I’d\u00a0love to see the German Grand Prix return one day, at the N\u00fcrburgring, Hockenheim, or somewhere else! <\/p>\n “That would be great. But, for now, a little slice of Germany will be in Zandvoort\u00a0\u2013 it will be like a home from home. <\/p>\n “Hopefully I can give them something to celebrate.”\ufeff<\/p>\n F1 ACADEMY<\/p>\n Get to know Mathilda<\/p>\n Determined, talented, and hard-working. Mathilda has risen through the karting ranks into single-seaters, impressing with her speed and competitiveness. Tap below to learn even more about our new driver.<\/p>\n![\"Mathilda](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DSC04631_28x16.jpg\")
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