What were you doing on the weekends at 16? Like most teenagers, you probably spent time with friends, hung out at the mall, or watched a movie. For Kareen Kaur, weekends look a little different. Recently, the 16-year-old tested two completely different machines in a single weekend at the iconic Sepang International Circuit: a Formula 4 car and a Mazda MX5.

But that’s the reality of racing. As Singapore’s first female driver to compete in Formula 4 — a milestone she has been working towards since she started karting at nine — she represents a promising wave of young talent charting a course to Formula 1.

From discovering her love for racing at a local karting track to outlining her plans for climbing the single-seater ladder, we had the privilege of speaking with Kareen about her journey in motorsports.

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Love At First Sound

Kareen’s passion for racing started even before she set foot into a go-kart. As a child, the young Singaporean would follow her dad Kuldeep, a sports car enthusiast, to test drives at car showrooms. The hum of the engines was always music to her ears. According to her, that was really where it all started.

But she didn’t discover the racer in her until she tried karting at the age of nine. During lunch at Turf City in Bukit Timah, her dad introduced her to fun karts.

“My dad didn’t expect much, but I came in fourth out of twelve on my very first run in a fun kart, and second on my second attempt. On the same day, he brought me to another track at Jurong, and an Italian racing team spotted me and signed me on that day.”

Like many great racers, instincts are part of what separates the good from the great. From the first time she sat in a kart, she felt free. Kareen instinctively knew where the brakes and accelerator were — a natural aptitude that surprised even her dad. That gut feeling cemented her passion and identity as a racer.

“The speed, racing against others, (and) pushing myself, it just felt like the most natural thing in the world. I can’t imagine not racing now. It’s become a big part of who I am.”

Honing Her Racecraft in Karts

It wasn’t long before her career in karts took off. Along the way, the young Singaporean karter achieved several major milestones.

Kareen placed fourth overall in the junior category of the ROK Cup Singapore 2024 Championship and was recognised as the series’ top female driver.

After securing second place in the opening round of the ROK Cup Malaysia, she finished fourth overall in the 2025 ROK Cup Asia Championship. Kareen also made history by becoming the first Singaporean female Sikh to compete in the prestigious ROK Cup Super Finals.

The Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) was another pivotal series for her single-seater ambitions. Founded in 2023 by the RGMMC Group in official collaboration with F1 Academy, she has competed in COTFA races in Spain, Italy, and the UAE.

Racing in karts, however, still has its challenges.

During the ROK Cup Super Finals in October 2023, Kareen experienced one of the scariest moments of her career. In a practice session, a competitor drove over her kart, throwing her from the vehicle and causing her to black out upon hitting the barrier.

Despite sustaining arm injuries and her father’s advice to sit out the rest of the weekend, she was back at the South Garda Karting track the very next day.

Another tough moment came in the Philippines, where Kareen was disqualified from the ROK Cup Asia Pre-Finals during a wet night race because her mechanic fitted the wrong tyre. Refusing to give up, she continued racing even though her championship points were severely compromised.

The result? Kareen fought back to finish as the first runner-up female driver of the race.

Climbing The Single Seater Ladder

After securing her success in karting, Kareen made her single-seater debut in 2025.

Her first stop was the Formula 4 Indian Championship. There, she managed a top-10 finish in the season opener at the Kari Motor Speedway, becoming the youngest Southeast Asian female driver to score points in an FIA-sanctioned Formula 4 race on her very first competitive weekend.

Following her debut in India, she made a one-off appearance in the Southeast Asia Formula 4 Championship at Sepang, giving her early exposure to the series and the circuit.

This year, Kareen was also selected for the 2026 Formula Global Shootout Programme. Racing against 10 other participants for a fully funded scholarship for the 2026 FIA F4 Indian Championship, she was eventually edged out by 15-year-old Singaporean Aaron Mehta.

Beyond Formula 4, Kareen has also raced in other machinery. This June, she joined Evans GP Academy for Round 2 of the Asia Classic Car Challenge at Sepang, driving a Mazda MX-5. Her touring car debut made an immediate statement: she qualified on pole in her class category, secured a class victory, and finished fifth overall.

When asked how well her karting skills aided in her single-seater campaign, Kareen shares:

“You quickly find which things carry over and which things don’t. The racecraft that was built in karting — from reading a race, knowing when to attack, staying calm under pressure — translates well. But the physical and technical demands of a single-seater are completely different.”

She adds:

“You’re suddenly dealing with aerodynamics and downforce, which totally changes how the car behaves through corners. In karting, there are no gear shifters. In Formula 4, you’re managing clutch control, launching off the line, pressing on brakes so hard you’re almost standing on the pedal. The cockpit is surrounded by carbon fibre, so it gets really hot, and the G-forces through long corners feel like it’s pulling your head sideways.”

In an interview with The Straits Times, Kareen also revealed that she trains nearly every day to build strength and stamina against her male peers who are sometimes more than twice her age.

Navigating the Fast Lane: School, Racing, and Pressure

Even without racing, the 16-year-old keeps a tight schedule. During non-race weeks, a typical day starts as early as 5:30 a.m. Between classes and extracurricular activities, Kareen is usually at school until 6:30 in the evening.

If she isn’t karting after school, she heads home to shower and complete her homework. Meals are often eaten in the car on the way to various commitments — be it the track, the gym, or her oxygen therapy sessions.

“In the lead-up to a race weekend, there’s also gym work, neck strength, core, reflex drills, simulator sessions. Since Singapore doesn’t have a Formula 4 circuit, proper track testing means travelling to Zhuhai in China. That usually happens during school holidays. After a race weekend, I sometimes land back in Singapore with assignments due the next day. I finish homework on flights (or) study in between races.”

Simulator work is just as vital. Whether she’s training at Full Focus Sim Lab or using her home setup, logging virtual laps helps Kareen get comfortable with the nuances of Formula 4 machinery before she even steps into the cockpit.

“The simulator is where I learn a track before I’ve driven it in real life. I use it to understand layouts, car setups, and how the car responds to different configurations. It also helps with the mental side since you would arrive at a circuit already having driven it hundreds of times. That matters, because when you’re in a real Formula 4 car you can focus on executing rather than learning.”

Then, there is the undeniable pressure that comes with representing a nation on the world stage.

“There’s pressure, but I use it positively. It reminds me that I’m not just driving for myself — I’m representing a whole new chapter for Singapore motorsport. We’re all drivers and we’re all there to win. I don’t want to be defined by my gender on track. When you’re fast, professional and authentically you, people’s preconceptions quickly fade away. They stop seeing you as a female driver and just see you as a competitor. The best way to tackle any assumptions is with performance: I let my driving do the talking.”

That said, Kareen admits there have been times when male peers weren’t thrilled about her overtaking them on track or beating them to a win. But she refuses to be intimidated. If anything, it’s motivation.

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Finding Strength Outside The Track

Given that her schedule revolves mostly around studying and training, she recognises the demanding reality of becoming a professional racing driver. Still, Kareen never feels like she’s missing out on a “normal” teenage life.

“During the off season, I do get to spend time with friends. My friends also support me in my races which I am appreciative for. Regardless, I’ve chosen this and I don’t feel like I’m missing something because racing is what I want. When I put on my helmet and get in the car, everything makes sense.”

Her family has also been a massive source of strength — a factor that makes it easier to balancing life as both a teenager and a racer. From logistical to emotional support, they stay by her side through the highs and lows of her career.

“My dad is closely involved in the racing ride. He travels with me, he is in the paddock, and he helps [me] stay focused and motivates me. My mum keeps the academic side of my life in order and grounds me emotionally. My sisters come for my races too, especially my youngest sister who follows me everywhere. ”

Beyond this, Kareen acknowledges how quickly expenses can mount up and is deeply grateful for the sacrifices her family continues to make, both financially and otherwise.

Aspirations for Formula 1

Kareen hasn’t been shy about her goal to reach Formula 1, but she remains pragmatic about her plans to climb the single-seater ladder.

Her immediate target is securing a Wild Card entry in F1 Academy.

“I’m keen to secure a wild card entry into F1 Academy in the coming year and hopefully, with the right support and opportunity, I hope to represent Singapore on a global stage like F1 Academy, which runs alongside the main Formula 1 season as a support series.”

Her experience in COTFA also places the Singaporean directly in the conversation to step into the all-female, Formula 4-level championship founded by Formula 1.

“The top female drivers in the senior category get invited to an official F1 Academy test, so it’s a very direct route. Racing in that series meant I was already being seen by the people who make those decisions. It put me on the F1 Academy radar. Combined with my Formula 4 results, it’s all part of the same picture that shows that I belong there.”

The Singaporean is also exploring options in Grand Touring (GT) racing, which involves two-seater enclosed-wheel cars. She is also keen to understand her control over different types of racing vehicles — the Porsche GT4, in particular, is on her radar.

Regardless of the series or machinery, her ambition is to build a successful professional career in top-tier motorsport. That means staying open to opportunities and continuing her development as a driver.

Inspiring The Next Generation of Racers

As a young female driver rising through the single-seater ranks, Kareen hopes the pathway becomes clearer and less expensive.

Beyond funding, she hopes young girls see that there is a place for them on the grid. Kareen notes that even if her presence inspires just one girl to convince her parents to let her try karting, that alone is a massive win.

“There have been girls who texted me saying, “You inspired me and I’m taking motorsport now.” That is what I want this to become — a path that’s recognised with more support structures so the next girl doesn’t have to start from zero.”

She’s even had the chance to meet one of her racing idols: Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy. They crossed paths when Kareen was racing in COTFA. Kareen highlighted how inspiring Wolff has been in promoting women in motorsport. Seeing an icon like her makes Kareen’s goal of entering the series feel like a realistic possibility.

Then there’s Max Verstappen, who has been the Singaporean’s racing idol for a while now — and that hasn’t changed.

“What I admire about him is his focus and his mentality, he never gives up. That’s something I genuinely try to learn from watching him. When things go wrong on track, you don’t panic, you don’t give up, you keep going. He embodies that.”

While the road to Formula 1 seems like a far stretch, Kareen can be proud of how far she has come since her days racing in a fun-kart at Bukit Timah.

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Debuting in 2024 and currently in its third season, the series now boasts ten teams owned by notable names such as Will Smith, Rafa Nadal and Lebron James. Founded by the mind behind Formula E and Extreme H, Alejandro Agag, each team has one male and one female pilot, promoting gender equality in sport and races in locations such as Saudi Arabia, Croatia and the Caribbean.

Two of the twenty pilots competing this year are Oban Duncan and Catie Munnings.

The youngest competitor in the series, Oban, is a ten-time Powerboat Champion, was named West Dunbartonshire Sports Personality of the Year, and has already earned multiple podium finishes in the E1 Series. This year, she’s competing for Team Monaco alongside Maxime Nocher.

Catie Munnings, meanwhile, races for the Sierra Racing Club team with Erik Stark and came to the E1 Series with a background in Extreme E and WRX, and is one of the UK’s most accomplished female motorsport athletes.

Ahead of the fourth round of the 2026 season that is due to take place this weekend in Monaco, It’s Race Week! sat down with these two pilots from this year’s Championship. We talked about their differing sporting careers so far, how this led to both of them going head-to-head in the E1 Series, their expectations for the remainder of the season, the importance of giving female athletes the chance to compete in the series, and more.

Watch the full interview now and follow both Oban and Catie’s progress this weekend in Monaco through socials and by watching the E1 Series live on YouTube and selected broadcasters.

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The morning was warm and windy in Silverstone, the F1 ACADEMY paddock already buzzing despite the early Friday start. Nina Gademan had just come off the only practice session of the weekend and gone straight into a massage. When she sat down across from me, she was relaxed, in good spirits, and clearly aware that the rest of her day was already spoken for. I had less than ten minutes with her.

“It was a bit dirty, but it was a good session,” she said of the track. “So, not too bad.”

Not too bad has become something of a theme this season. Nobody circled Gademan’s name as a title favourite coming into her second year in F1 ACADEMY. She arrived at Silverstone, the series' first-ever visit to the circuit and round three of the championship, sixth in the standings. By the time she left, she’d closed the gap to the front from a full second down to half a tenth, and moved up to third with an extra podium behind her.

“I remember we lacked a bit of pace in testing here, two months ago-ish, I think,” she told me. “And then we just worked hard behind the scenes, focusing on the things we needed to. And now we’ve closed the gap from one second to basically half a tenth to Palmowski. So, yeah, I think we made a good step.”

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It’s a modest way to describe what’s actually a quite remarkable turnaround, and it fits a driver whose career has never followed the easy route. Gademan had her first go-kart at five years old and fought her way through the Dutch karting ranks the way most drivers do, on ambition and family sacrifice.

By nineteen, the money had run out. She stepped away from racing entirely for a year and a half, long enough that most people would have let the dream go. Instead, she leaned into sim racing, and the videos she posted on social media found an audience large enough to put her in front of a manager, and eventually the sponsors who funded her way back into a real car.

The comeback, once it started, moved fast. Her F1 ACADEMY debut came as a Wild Card at Zandvoort in 2024, where she became the first Wild Card driver in the series to score points. A full-time seat followed in 2025 with Alpine and PREMA, four podiums and a maiden win at her home race in Zandvoort, on her own birthday. This year, she’s moved to her compatriots at MP Motorsport, opened the season with a win in Shanghai, and is now building a genuine case for the title.

“I think the switch from PREMA to MP has been really good,” she said. “Working together with the team has felt quite natural so far, as well with Alpine, obviously, also behind the scenes.” She talked me through the season so far without ceremony: Shanghai going almost too smoothly, Montreal going badly wrong. “Those weekends happen. I mean, they also happen in F1 to drivers. I think the most important thing is how, after that, you look back at it, you reflect on it, you’re working with the team, you try and find out what you can do better.”

That steadiness reads differently once you know what else she’s carrying. A year and a half ago, Gademan was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition that arrived suddenly and without warning. It has changed how she trains and what her body can do on any given day. Squats are off the table. Running is off the table. She’s on a bike instead, and much of the treatment she gets for it is, in her words, painful. A heavy crash last year in Jeddah put 20 Gs through a spine that was never built to take that kind of impact.

“I was actually very lucky I didn’t break my back,” she said. “Because I’ve got scoliosis, obviously, my spine cannot take that hit.” She rattled off, almost matter-of-factly, everything the diagnosis has taken off the table: “I need to train differently than other drivers. There are exercises like a squat that I can’t do. I can’t run, so I’m on the bike all the time, and I can’t do rowing or whatever. There’s a lot of stuff I can’t do, and a lot of treatment I get on the side, which is very painful sometimes. But it’s getting better.” Then, simply: “It’s not holding me back anymore a lot in racing.”

None of this featured in the highlight reel from Shanghai or the podium at Silverstone, and she clearly prefers it that way. When I asked how she’s approaching this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, where she’s about to drive a Formula 1 car, she was almost stubborn about keeping her focus on the weekend in front of her. The team wanted to walk her through the car's procedures before Silverstone. “Tell me after the weekend, please,” she told them. “I don’t want to think about it this weekend.” It’s a small moment, but it says a lot about how she operates: one job finished before the next one gets any of her attention.

The car in question has history attached to it. Gademan will take the Lotus E20, the car Kimi Räikkönen drove to victory at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, up the Goodwood Hill on Thursday, 9th of July, alongside Alpine’s current F1 driver Pierre Gasly, part of a five-strong Alpine line-up across the weekend that also includes Franco Colapinto, Paul Aron, and Alex Dunne.

“Just to be living this dream is still kind of surreal sometimes because I used to live a normal life. I used to have three jobs and save up money for a race. So I know what it’s like out there as a normal person, basically. And just to live the life I want to right now and actually performing well is surreal sometimes. Sometimes I forget about it. I need to calm down, realise I’m living the dream, and get on with the work.”

Next up is Zandvoort, F1 ACADEMY’s fourth round and the race that means the most to her and where fans have shown up for her in force. One of them, she told me almost in disbelief, had her signature tattooed onto their skin. “That’s what we love,” she said, and there was no performance in the way she said it. She has good memories there, a Wild Card debut and a maiden win, and she’s not shy about what she wants from a repeat visit. “We’re coming for another win in the Zandvoort race, and then hopefully tons of fans again at the garages.”

Whatever happens there, Gademan has already made her point at Silverstone: results built without noise and a season that keeps getting better.

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Drawing from nearly 13,000 fans across 147 countries and over 70 industry experts, More Than Equal’s 2023 report, “Inside Track: Exploring the Gender Gap in Motorsport.” tell a clear story. Women make up just 10% of participants across all motorsport categories. Their careers are also significantly shorter, averaging one to five years, compared to over 12 years for men.

In Asia, female representation remains exceptionally rare. To date, no Asian female driver has participated in an official Formula 1 competitive session. The number of active Asian female drivers competing in regional FIA-sanctioned single-seater championships hovers in the single digits at any given time.

Ananya Srinidhi, co-founder of Hairpin Media, is painfully aware of this reality. Despite Formula 1’s success across Asia, she realised how little fans know about the feeder series below it or parallel championships in different machinery.

“The problem really arises when we have all this talent from Asia doing incredibly well but don’t get recognition because nobody knows, media doesn’t pick it up, no earned media, no visibility, no sponsors, and ultimately you get an unfulfilled career,” said Ananya. “From a nation-building standpoint, the nation misses out the opportunity to showcase its own athletes and its position in the global sporting circle.”

She helped form Hairpin Media to fix this visibility gap. From storytelling to digital identity-building, the design-led B2B editorial platform captures the data and stories of Asian motorsport talent. Today, the platform nurtures rising drivers like Kareen Kaur, Abhay Mohan, Ary Bansal, Jaden Immanuel, and more.

Discovering Her Passion For Racing

Ananya’s earliest memory of motorsports traces back to her dad reading Schumacher-in-Red newspaper headlines aloud. While she hasn’t missed a Formula 1 season since 2008, her passion for racing truly ignited when she tried go-karting. Even at local, independent events where she was often the only girl on the grid, that reality never dulled her drive to race.

“Honestly, I observed that I was the only girl on the grid, the only girl spending weekends watching races, or talking about it in school. However, I never focused on that aspect of what I enjoyed,” said Ananya. “When I was on track, I didn’t care who I was racing against. Off-track, I share the industry with others. I take every win as a proper win, and a loss as any other loss someone else would have.”

Though a professional racing career wasn’t feasible, Ananya never stopped chasing her vision. Arcs Racing became her first real exposure to the business side of the sport — navigating money, decision-makers, sponsors, and people paying for an experience.

Working closely with Ali YH, team principal of Kartkrew Motorsports, she learned not only how to operate within Indian motorsports but also how to do so with empathy and ethics. Little did she know that learning how to treat a driver paying for track time or someone chasing a dream they could barely afford would become the foundation Hairpin Media was built on.

While Arcs Racing grounded her in the business, SportWalk kept Ananya connected to the bigger picture. Reporting on Formula 1 across different editorial teams for nearly five years trained a different muscle, one that would also be useful to her work at Hairpin Media.

Starting Hairpin Media

While racing was her passion, Ananya took a different path upon graduating from college. Stepping into the corporate world before returning to motorsports gave her the foundations she needed to build Hairpin Media.

“A stint in the corporate world taught me process, discipline and big thinking. These, I believe, are fundamentals that develop you as a founder.”

Co-founding Hairpin Media, however, was about chasing a much bigger vision. To address the lack of visibility for Asian talent, the company was built to solve a specific piece of the equation: capturing the data and stories behind Asian motorsports. Today, Hairpin does far more — its sister brands allow the team to work across a wider range of sports and sectors.

The Challenges For Women To Break Into the Asian Motorsport Industry

Research by More Than Equal highlights a stark participation and performance gap across all categories of motorsport. Women make up just 10% of participants on average, peaking at 13% in karting before plummeting to a mere 7% in Formula and GT Racing.

Addressing the lack of female representation in Asia, Ananya shares:

It ultimately comes down to equal access to opportunity. According to Ananya, a male and female driver with identical results and career trajectories will rarely receive the same financial backing from a sponsor.

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Then, there’s the cost. Competitiveness in a race car directly correlates to track time, which is inevitably proportional to money spent. Beyond financial commitments, young Asian drivers aspiring to climb the single-seater ladder must also navigate immense personal sacrifices. Think skipping school, funding race-specific training, travel, equipment, and testing — all for the reward of a few Super License points.

“If you win, the risk is that you will need to commit the same way year after year in the hope that either a sponsor finds your journey inspiring or an F1 Team Academy is watching. Both are as good as finding a needle in a haystack.”

Globally, female athletes secure just a fraction of motorsport sponsorship dollars. Add in a racing landscape that remains heavily Euro-centric, and female drivers in Asia face an even steeper climb to attract financial backing.

“It is also far harder to convince a neutral, non-female brand to put in ad dollars into a woman in sport compared to banking on a male athlete. That’s now slowly shifting for the better and we’ve seen it with Kareen. However, not as rapidly as we would like it.”

The Future of Women Racing in Asia and Beyond

Throughout the sport’s history, none of the 28 Asian drivers to race in Formula 1 has been a woman. The five women who have participated in a Grand Prix weekend all hailed from Europe or South Africa — underscoring the exact gap initiatives like F1 ACADEMY and the FIA are trying to bridge. Ananya sheds light on the reality for young girls pursuing a motorsports career in Asia today.

F1 Academy, created to give women a stepping stone up the single-seater ladder, hasn’t featured a locally developed Asian driver since Bianca Bustamante raced in the series for McLaren during the 2023 and 2024 season — nor has an Asian driver participated in the F1 Academy Rookie test.

When evaluating current programmes designed to build the female talent pipeline, the Hairpin Media co-founder notes they still fall short in supporting young Asian drivers. More Than Equal, for instance, has operated for over three years but has only backed one Asian talent: Katrina Ee.

What concrete, structural shifts does Asian motorsports actually need to create more opportunities for women in the region?

“Government or majority state-owned multinational entities should treat motorsports the same as any other sport or athlete. There also needs to be a consistent effort made to bring international talents to Asia so our athletes have a proper benchmark.”

Ananya adds:

“I would love to see promoters put real muscle into marketing the general audience to karting races, GT races, and more — especially in countries that are in a position to host championships.”

Most importantly, audience footfall isn’t just a vanity metric, she stresses. It provides tangible value for drivers — boosting morale and translating directly into commercial leverage for securing sponsorships. Consistently strong turnouts ensure sustainable growth for the local motorsports scene, which ultimately paves the way for more Asian talent to break through.

Ultimately, the silver lining is that out on the track, nothing else matters.

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Maya Weug is one of those drivers who, from the outside, you’d think would have no trouble securing sponsorship. The Dutch-Belgian driver born in Alicante, Spain, is one of the most talented young women in motorsport today. Inspired by the Pixar film Cars and seeing her dad enjoy karting on weekends, she got her own kart at seven and hasn’t stopped racing since.

Wherever she competes, she leaves a mark: from beating the likes of Kimi Antonelli and Gabriele Bortoletto at WSK in her early years, to becoming the first woman ever to join the Ferrari Driver Academy, to finishing Vice Champion in her final F1 Academy season. This year, in her debut GT season, she’s stepped onto the podium in both of her first two rounds.

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Talent And Results Are Not Enough

Maya’s results speak clearly. But that, as she’ll tell you, is not enough. And it’s not just her who’s struggling. Historically, women’s sports have received just 1% of global sports sponsorship dollars. In motorsport, the percentage is even lower. And although the market is undergoing a significant shift, with more brands starting to genuinely support female drivers, it is still not enough.

We sat down with Maya to talk about this reality and to know the woman behind the helmet. We talked about the shift from F1 dreams to Le Mans ambitions and what drove that change. About what she learned inside the Ferrari Driver Academy and F1 Academy, and what happens when that support disappears. About the solidarity between the drivers who’ve come out the other side of F1 Academy, all navigating the same uncertainty together. And about what she wishes people really understood about the life of a racing driver.

Watch the full interview now and follow her journey through her socials.

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Clara Stiebleichinger is an Austrian Formula 4 driver currently competing in the French Formula 4 Championship. Following an epic birthday present where she got to test Formula 4 machinery for the first time, the young Austrian was essentially set on her path down the motorsport road.

With no time competing in karting and instead a stint in the Indian Racing League, Clara has taken an unconventional but fascinating route into the racing world so far and that has continued into this year as she plans to capitalize on her capabilities behind the wheel while unlocking more of her potential for the future. We caught up recently to talk about this, what it’s been like to compete in French Formula 4 so far this season, her plans and ambitions for the future and much more.

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“It was really impressive also to drive an F4 car and to feel like you’re in an F1 car and be like, oh my god, this is so cool!” - Clara Stiebleichinger

Thiemo: What first got you interested in motorsport?

Clara: I started watching F1 with my Dad at a very young age. The first bits of what I remember is from the times where Sebastian Vettel was winning. My Dad always watched it and I was just joining him and I started to really get into it in 2017. Since then I just kind of watched every race, every qualifying, and I also created a friend group of mine and got everyone into it.

Then in 2021 it was the first time that I went to see F1 in real life in Austria, in Spielberg and it just, it really inspired me. I just love all the adrenaline and everything.

I think it’s like my path is kind of unusual because I feel like everyone starts with karting, but I never had that. So I just got into it with my Dad and then later on for my 18th birthday, I got a birthday present where I could try out a Formula car in France for one week.

It was a shootout programme. However, we kind of didn’t know that before. So we just came there and thought, oh yeah, I’ll have a week of fun with the F4.

Later on I talked with the team and told them that I would be really interested in working in F1. I asked if they can give me tips on how to achieve that. And then they told me, yeah, you should try to become a driver because there are not a lot of girls and I feel like they thought I have potential.

So that’s how everything kind of started.

Thiemo: Quite a good birthday present to get. To just go and test out an F4 car. How did that week go, how was the experience? Because like you said, that was your first time in. What was all that like?

Clara: Well, to be honest, everyone was so professional there. Like everyone came from karting or even did already F4 tests before.

So I was kind of like the only one who was new to everything. And I was like, oh, what an environment and everything. And the first couple of days, I just kind of enjoyed it.

And I thought it’s just an amazing experience. And then when I got to know everyone, they were really competitive and of course wanted to win that. But for me, I kind of didn’t have the feeling of winning this. But of course, I tried to improve as well. And yeah, at the end of the week, I was definitely not the fastest, but it was a lot of fun. And I really kind of got into it.

And it was really impressive also to drive an F4 car and to feel like you’re in an F1 car and be like, oh my god, this is so cool! And everything. So, it was a great week.

Thiemo: Was it during that week? Or was it before when you’re watching Formula One with your Dad that you decided that you wanted to go down this route and become a racing driver?? Or were you thinking about a different role maybe?

Clara: Well, I would say it was definitely after the week. Because still after the week, I was thinking, okay, I won’t become a racing driver. But all the experiences were great.

But then when I talked more with the team, they were more and more encouraging me to keep going. And they offered me winter tests. And that’s when step by step, I realised, okay, I might actually become a racing driver. And that was really unreal. So it was definitely after the week.

Thiemo: I was just thinking that first week, like you say, where you’re maybe just thinking it’s a bit of fun, not expecting anything from it. And then I think, now we could say it’s escalated a little bit.

Clara: Yeah, that’s true!

Thiemo: Last year, there’s two bits I want to talk to you about. One of them you mentioned already, which was the testing. What was that like? Because you say you went into this week, it’s a birthday present, you’re having fun and then suddenly you’re in the more serious environment, let’s say, you’re testing. So do you have any expectations of what you wanted to achieve from that? And was that different from what other people wanted from you? Or were you just treating it as I wasn’t expecting to be here?

Clara: Yeah, I think the first winter tests, I did them in the Gen 1 car. So not the Gen 2, but the Gen 1. And I feel like that I was still treating those tests like having fun.

I feel like my expectations were not that high. I was just like, okay, I give my best, I do my best. But in the end, I mean, I knew that I don’t have the experience like everybody else.

And I knew that I don’t have such high expectations for myself. I feel like that came later on. And also my parents were not really having high expectations.

I feel like they never even thought that we would be in this situation. But I feel like the team had expectations on me, but they were never pressuring me or anything. I just knew that they were like, yes, Clara, we know you can do that.

And they were like, I mean, also encouraging, but I knew that their expectations were probably higher than mine.

Thiemo: Did you find that that approach for you as well meant that you felt under less pressure from both yourself and them? So you were able to perform potentially better than if you were stressing and feeling like you had to meet certain expectations. Do you think that helps you perform better? Or are you someone who you need the pressure and you want the stress? And that’s what helps you?

Clara: Well, I feel like there needs to be a good balance between both of them because I feel like the first test we did, the team told me kind of like, yeah, you have to perform there. Because if you’re not fast, we’re not going to continue with this. Which obviously makes sense. So I feel like that was the first time that I had pressure. But when it went well, I feel like everybody was just relieved.

And then there was like no pressure at all anymore. And I could just really enjoy it. And I feel like that helped a lot. Because I feel like if you’re always just stressed out about it, then you feel like you have to perform. And that makes you make more mistakes, maybe. So I feel like I didn’t have that pressure at all in the beginning of those winter tests last year.

Thiemo: You went and competed in Indian F4, which is a whole other adventure in itself. So tell me all about that, because that must have been quite surreal.

Clara: Yeah, so since I did the shootout programme and all the testings with a French team, it was always the goal to go to French F4. But we knew that I have zero experience with racing and everything. So of course, we said, OK, I have to do something before because going into French F4 with zero experience would be not good for myself and for everyone around.

So we said, OK, we need to find a championship that’s, let’s say, relatively cheap. And also, I wouldn’t say the level is less, but there were for sure less people because in the European championships, they’re always competing at least 30 drivers or more, like in Italian, in Spanish, in French. And what was also really important is that the championship was driven with the Miguel car and not the Tatus because I was only used to that car.

So what came into our mind was the Indian championship because we found it and that’s where I went. And it was so good to gain all the experience and everything with how a race weekend works, how I overtake, how I defend, how a start goes and everything because I’ve never done karting again. So it’s like, I don’t know how it really works and I need to gain that experience.

Thiemo: There’s not many people I talk to that get into motorsport without any karting. So it’s quite an interesting perspective to get.

Clara: Yeah, exactly! So that’s the main reason why we did that. And in the end, it turned out to be a really good experience. And also the start up field is way less people. So we were about 15 or 16 people instead of 30 people, which makes everything a bit easier as well and less chaotic. So, yeah. Just as well, competing, completely different continent, completely different country.

Thiemo: Had you ever been to India before or was this your first time?

Clara: Yeah, no, I have never been to India before. My parents have been there before, but only for the holidays. So, of course, the country itself is really different from Europe, from what we’re used to. The people are different, their culture, their food and stuff.

So I kind of had to get used to it, especially the food, I would say, because they eat really spicy food.

Thiemo: Are you good with spicy food?

Clara: No, not at all! I kind of had to get my own food there. But in the end, to be honest, we were only there between the racetrack and our hotel. So I have not seen that much from India and we didn’t really have time to do some sightseeing. But it was definitely something that I had to get used to as well. And also the climate is different, like the weather and one weekend we had 40 degrees and it was humid like crazy so it was physically also a bit more exhausting.

Thiemo: Performance-wise as well, I think you had a highest finish of P4, so just off the podium. Was that something, like you say, you didn’t necessarily have expectations, but did you kind of want that podium a bit more after you got that people going close or were you just like, this is great people?

Clara: Yeah, well, I feel like I went there with really zero expectations. My parents went there with zero expectations. Everyone around me was like, okay, you’re just there to gain experience.

And then the first two weekends were incredible. Also performance-wise, like I finished my first race, I think P8 and then the second P6. So it was like going forward really quickly.

So of course I was really happy about the results. And then what you’re speaking of P4 was the first time that I was kind of frustrated with the result because I was really, really, really close to the podium. And I knew I could have been on the podium, but I made my own mistakes.

But now looking back at it, of course it’s like an amazing result. And I feel like I could have never imagined to be in that situation like ever. And so I just reached from no expectations to expectations of having a podium.

So I feel like that’s already a big step. So I can just be happy and proud of what I achieved.

Thiemo: Then obviously this year you’re competing in French F4. Why this championship in particular?

Clara: Again, it was probably because I worked already with a French team before.

So as I said, now I have to take this step to go to Europe to compete there because it’s the best level. They have great championships and everything. So I feel like the French championship was just because I was working with the team and was used to that car. So that was the first thing.

“For next year, my goal would be to go to the F1 Academy. I think it’s just a great way to get visibility and also to compete with the best women in this field.” - Clara Stiebleichinger

Thiemo: And then at the opening round already in Nogaro, how did that go from your perspective?

Clara: Quite a long weekend. Yeah, really long weekend. I’m super happy with the weekend overall. I think really a lot of positive things to take away. I feel like this year the level is really high. Really, really close as well with the gaps. Like from P1 to P22, we were in one second. So that’s incredible. But of course, I want to learn from the best and with the best. So it’s great to be in that pack. I think my qualifying performance, I have to get a bit of a step in qualifying performance.

However, I was still happy with the qualifying as well because I mean, one second from pole is not bad. Especially when it’s covering so many drivers as well.

Thiemo: It’s like the smallest thing here, the smallest thing there. Sometimes it’s just bad luck that you just don’t quite get it at the right angle.

Clara: Exactly. So I was just a bit unfortunate to be at the end of that pack. But then with the races, I had good starts, good opening laps with overtakes, defending. I mean, the second race was only with safety cars.

We had four safety cars. Yeah, that was a bit crazy. But especially the first race, it was great.

I overtook. I defended and just everything again to learn and everything. And then just the last race, I had an amazing start. I have to say it was the best I’ve done! But I got involved in an incident, so I had to retire. That was a bit of a shame to end the weekend like that.

But overall, I’m pretty happy. I did two female podiums and then two top 15 finishes. So that’s what I expected, to be honest.

Thiemo: I’m curious what, if anything, did you learn from when you were racing in India that’s helped you perform already in French F4? Is there something in particular that you’ve thought, oh, I’ve dealt with this before or there’s a better way of handling it that I now know about?

Clara: Yeah, I think what helped me a lot is just to be used to having cars around. Obviously, in the testing, you’re just alone. You’re driving on your own.

You’re just doing your thing. I remember also in India, that was the first thing I had to learn is having cars around and being so close to cars to follow them to make a move and stuff. So that helped for sure. And I feel like it also took a bit of my nerves before the first race. I mean, of course, I was excited and everything, but I felt like I was not so stressed out because I know how a start works. I know that it’s going to be crazy in the first lap.

So I feel like that experience from India was really, really helpful. And so I was just not being stressed out when three cars are wide or someone is so close to me. I’m not like being, oh my God, that car is too close to me. But moreover, I know how to handle the situation.

Thiemo: Looking ahead at the rest of the season, do you have any particular goals or ambitions that you want to achieve or are you simply taking it one race weekend at a time?

Clara: Of course, I’m just looking forward to the next race. I think we have great tracks like Spa and also Paul Riccard where we’re going. So I’m really, really excited for those tracks as well.

Next race will be in Dijon. So I’m just looking forward to them. But of course, one of the main goals would definitely be scoring points. At some point, we’ll see. I feel like now that the first race went so well, my expectations may be a bit higher than before. And since there are also like 10 women in our championship, we kind of have the women championship as well.

So this is like a side thing that I want to win as well. So, yeah.

Thiemo: What are your dreams, ambitions for the future? Do you have a particular end goal in mind or are you just still very much let’s just see what happens?

Clara: I’m kind of open to a lot of things, I would say. For next year, my goal would be to go to the F1 Academy. I think it’s just a great way to get visibility and also to compete with the best women in this field.

So I would be very excited to go there. However, of course, I’m not sure how this will work out or not because there are lots of women who do now like more seasons than two or something. So they’re not like a lot of places like it was this year because this year there were a lot of people. There are lots of rookies this year, but still like this would be the goal for next year and then just keep learning from there. I mean, looking forward to going to F3 or F2, I just think like, of course, it would be amazing.

But of course, it’s also a question of budget and everything. So I kind of see myself wherever, like I just want to go forward and see how I can progress, what I can do, but I would be open as well to do some GT racing or endurance racing. So I’m pretty open about whatever comes next.

Thiemo: And do you have a favourite motorsport memory so far?

Clara: Well, from racing side wise, I would say just. I don’t know, it’s just being in the car, it’s just being in the car. And I always have the joy of racing and have the adrenaline.

I really enjoyed racing as well on like F1 tracks like Spa or Paul Ricard. It’s an amazing feeling to know, OK, like F1 drivers have driven here before and now it’s me as well. And one of my favourite moments was definitely also just the first race in India.

After I was done and the first race was in rain. So yeah, and I just remember the feeling of just, oh my God, I did it. And I could have never imagined that even a year ago or a couple of months before.

Thiemo: So I feel like that was the first race in India, single seaters in the rain, opt-in finish. That’s not too bad.

Clara: No, exactly! So I feel like that’s one of my favourite moments.

Thiemo: On the other side of that, what has been the most challenging moment for you so far?

Clara: I think challenging is to not get stuck in my head. That if I, especially also during races, make mistakes that I don’t get stuck on those mistakes.

But to move forward and to kind of forget it or even like in India, it was like we had three races in one day. So if the first race didn’t go well, I was kind of stressed out and kept those mistakes with me for the other two races. And I just had to learn to let those go and move forward and concentrate on the things that are happening now and not get stuck on the things that happened in the past.

Thiemo: No, definitely. I think that’s something you have to deal with, especially in that situation, because there’s just no time to focus on that because you’ve got to get on with the next thing and the next thing and the next thing.

And you see that as well with French F4 this season. You had what, five practise sessions on Friday? And then you get straight into qualifying, straight into the race, two races, and then another race. So there’s no real time to feel bad about yourself if you have made any mistakes or to think about it. But at the same time, if you’ve got something you want to improve on, you don’t have long to figure out how to solve it either.

So it’s that weird balance as well. Final question for you then, which I think may be linked a little bit to what you’re talking about your first time in the car in India. What does it mean to you to be a racing driver?

Clara: Well, now it means the world to me. It became such an important thing in my life. And it’s just so incredible for me that I have this amazing opportunity, which I never could have even dreamed of. Literally, I couldn’t even dream of being in this position. I never thought that it would be possible. So right now, it’s just a really big passion of mine. And it really makes me happy and keeps me going.

And it’s just amazing to be part of such a world and to meet so many new people, so many travels so far and everything. It’s just an incredible environment. And it’s just amazing to be part of such a community.

Thiemo: Perfect way to finish up the interview, I think. Best of luck for everything else moving forward for the rest of the year. I’ll be watching. Thank you.

Clara: Thank you so much for the invitation.

*

Catch Clara at the French Formula 4 on its return on June 19th-21st in Spa, Belgium.

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As part of our coverage of the five women competing at the 2026 Vodafone Rally de Portugal, we sat down with Inês after the rally weekend to get to know the human behind the helmet. She wasn’t on the podium this time around, but what she carries into every stage, and every part of her life off the road, is a story worth telling in full.

Co-driving is one of motorsport’s most misunderstood positions, encompassing many tasks, such as recce preparation, pace notes written metre by metre, calculations to hit each time control to the second, tyre pressure checks, and real-time communication with engineers, among many others. The driver just drives. Everything else falls to the co-driver.

The Lisbon-born co-driver has been doing a precise job alongside the same driver, José Pedro Fontes, for twelve years. This is a partnership that she describes as a marriage, built on trust, shared history, and a single look being enough to know what the other needs.

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Co-Driver, Entrepreneur and Mother

Twenty-five years in motorsport is an achievement on its own. Doing it while building a physiotherapy clinic from scratch and raising a family with the same precision she brings to the stages is something else entirely. Motorsport shaped her into someone who knows how to compartmentalise, how to show up fully in one world without letting the others fall apart. But it hasn’t always been straightforward, and she doesn’t pretend otherwise.

We talked about how she balances a motorsport career and a business while raising a family. About a serious accident in 2017 that led her to question everything, and what it took to come back. And about something she’s tired of after all these years in the sport: being asked questions that are only ever asked because she’s a woman.

It’s a 24-minute honest and laid-back conversation that gives you a full picture of who Inês Ponte is and reminds you why the person behind the helmet matters as much as the result.

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Earlier this week, we were in Madrid for her official 2026 season presentation, hosted at the headquarters of Bosch España. Bosch Mobility Aftermarket has been her main sponsor for three consecutive years now, a partnership that has grown into something more personal than a sponsorship deal.

At just 23, and with a relatively short career, she’s already made history. She became the first woman to win a race in the Spanish Touring Car Championship at 19, and in her debut Supercars Endurance season in 2025, she led the championship for much of the year before finishing third overall. All of it built fast, and built to last.

This year, she returns to the endurance category with a clear goal: to win the championship and take another step towards Le Mans and the WEC, her ultimate ambition. The Supercars Endurance calendar takes her to Portimão, Jarama, Valencia and Jerez, and she’ll be the only Spanish woman competing in her category.

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A Character Built For Endurance

It’s perhaps no surprise that endurance suits her so well. Her life has shaped a fighter’s character. From a young age, she learned what it means to face adversity, watching her mother battle cancer and making her way as a woman in a man’s world. But she also learned what it means to dream big, growing up alongside a karting champion grandfather who showed her what was possible. She’s learned to build herself, chase her dreams, and never forget to look out for others along the way.

We sat down with Alba for an honest conversation that went well beyond lap times and championship standings. We talked about how she’s been in the tracks with her grandfather since she was a baby, and what it means to carry his legacy with her now. About balancing a motorsport career with a personal life, and the weight that comes with both. About what happens if motherhood comes into the picture, and how that changes your relationship with risk and the dangers of a sport you love. And about her commitment to children’s cancer research, something she speaks about with real depth and care.

It’s a 14-minute conversation that gives you a much fuller picture of who Alba Vázquez actually is. Because behind every result, there’s always a person worth knowing.

Watch the full interview in Spanish with English subtitles, and follow her season through the Supercars Endurance official YouTube channel.

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Joanne Ciconte hasn’t returned to F1 Academy in 2026. Instead, the seventeen-year-old has taken a different path as she embraces the challenge that is the Kyojo Cup - an all-female racing series that is held in Japan from April to October. In this third and final part of our in-depth conversation with the Australian-Italian, we talk about why she decided to make this move, what her preparation for the season ahead is, and look at who some of her racing role models were growing up.

If you missed either of the first two parts of our conversation with Joanne, you can find them below:

Thiemo: Why did you decide this year to step away from F1 Academy and go into the Kyojo Cup? What was the thinking there?

Joanne: So honestly saying, as I said, F1 Academy was a great series, but I think from a development point of view, it was just hard for myself personally to develop because I wasn’t able to get enough seat time, which, as I said, I entered this series with very minimal experience, which kind of pulled me back as it was a disadvantage against my other opponents. So I feared that doing a second year would kind of just restrict my development more as a driver. And I’m here to race, and I’m here to meet my ultimate goal, and I feel that can happen by racing in Japan.

So this year, I’ve decided to compete in the Kyojo Cup, an all-female Japanese series held by Toyota and Honda. So there are some amazing opportunities there, and I’m aspiring to participate in Super Formula, which is the second fastest open-wheeler category there is, outside of Formula One. And Super Formula, you’ve had Formula One drivers like Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda, and I think even Luke Browning, who’s now participating in that. So it’s kind of a down-low series, but I think it’s incredible because the speed is faster than Formula Two. So yeah, I think it’s really up there, and I think I’m trying to take a different route because I think that it’s better for my development point of view.

Thiemo: I was going to ask about Super Formula being on the cards, so I’m glad you read my mind on that one. But you’ve raced in Europe, obviously, you’ve raced in Australia, and now you’re going on to compete in Japan. Have you noticed any differences in the culture around racing in the paddock, with fans, or with sponsors? And what’s maybe stood out to you from those observations?

Joanne: I think, you know, the Japanese culture kind of says it for themselves, because they are so welcoming, they’re so, you know, they really, they make so much effort to really make you feel like you’re welcomed, and they’re just so kind. And I’m so fortunate to be working with an amazing team as well, KCMG Racing Team. They are probably one of Asia’s best teams.

So I’m happy to be racing with them. And my competitors, they are quite fast too. So I’m actually having to put my head down a bit because it’s not an easy series. And it’s also iconic to be racing at the Fuji Speedway Circuit and having great audiences, great fan base. It’s all building slowly, but I have really, really high hopes for this season.

Thiemo: What are your ambitions for the season ahead?

Joanne: So my ambition for this season is to, honestly, as I said before, just develop as a driver, whether that’s physically, mentally, on track, off track, just taking every bit on the way.

And just adapting quickly because it is a new car. It is a new kind of circuit. I’ve driven there a couple of times. And the tires are completely different to what I’m used to. So kind of picking up, putting down kind of situation. So yeah, I’m just going to have to do what I usually do. I feel that like, you know, I wake up every day and I follow the same routine every day. And somehow in a year’s time, I’ve completely changed and I’ve completely gotten better. And things have changed for me. So just keep doing what I’m doing, thinking ahead of myself, progressing. And I’m confident to have a couple of podiums this year.

Thiemo: Is it taking it more of a race by race situation rather than an overall season? I would say you have the season development plan of I want to be in a better position as a driver on these fronts by the end of it. But in terms of what that looks like, I’m not going to set anything specific so that then when it comes to a race weekend, you can just hopefully focus and maximise on what’s right in front of you at that point.

Joanne: Yeah, 100%. I truly believe in what you just said then, because I think that you can’t, in this sport, it’s so intense as it is, and we’re looking for tenths of a second. So you can’t really just say, I need to be on Pole, you really gotta put your head down and dedicate. Every day for me looks like a training day. So it all happens off track as much as it happens on track. So yeah, this season, I’m taking things more seriously because I believe participating in the Kyojo Cup is a step up in my career.

Thiemo: How has that training and preparation been like so far? And how long have you known that you were going to be doing that this year? Because obviously you get the news announced, but you’re never sure how long a driver’s known about that they’re going to do something before they’re allowed to talk about it. So what’s the prep looked like so far on your end?

Joanne: Yeah, so after my season in F1 Academy, I think that we had to come to a decision and decided whether I wanted to do a second season in F1 Academy or put my focus somewhere else. And it was a tough decision, but we made one. I am confident in that decision as well. But yeah, I mean, without knowing, I have to control what I can control. And that means doing training. And it’s a bit hard to know what to do on the simulator, but I can also train physically in the gym. I can train mentally for things. And that just is, it’s better than doing nothing. So that’s kind of what I have to do.

Thiemo: And do you think if you hadn’t been in F1 Academy last year, you’d be doing the Kyojo Cup this year? Which you say, if you had that experience of it, it was great at F1 Academy, but it showed you the different options of what’s out there and how tough it can be and what you might be better off doing in terms of your own personal development. Do you think you’d still be doing it or do you think you’d have been going on a different route somewhere else?

Joanne: Honestly, I’m not too sure. It’s a bit hard because, as I said, things just happen in such a short period of time. Opportunities, they come. And if you don’t take them, they go.

So all this stuff happens so rushed. So I think one of the key strengths as a driver is just being adaptable and knowing how to adapt to different cars, different situations, different opportunities. So I think that I would have definitely been racing in Europe last year, but I think I was really proud and I was really happy and I wouldn’t take it back racing in F1 Academy last year. And it was a great experience because I built myself a profile at such a young age. And being a female, that’s what we need. But I’m here to race, as I said, so I believe that my development and a driving point of view can be built somewhere else.

Thiemo: Then, going back to Giancarlo and Marco for a second, does having that level of experience in your corner change what you thought was possible before they came along? Or does it also put more pressure on yourself as a driver?

Joanne: Having their support?

Thiemo: Yeah, because, you know, these are two people, like you were saying earlier, they’re big figures in motorsport. They’ve gone and had their own careers and success. Does that add pressure to you because you’ve got these significant figures there? Or does it calm things down a bit because you’ve got these significant figures behind you?

Joanne: Funnily enough, both, because, you know, I think that I do have that pressure from them in a good way because they’re expecting well of me. They’re expecting good performances, good results for myself and my limit as a driver, because they know I have potential and they know I can do well for myself and they know how far I’ve come. And every driver is different. But I think it’s in a good way that, you know, they have standards and they have expectations for me and that builds, obviously, a pressure. But for them, it’s kind of acceptable because they’re the ones that believe in you at the end of the day. And my success is also their success. So it’s really fortunate to find good pressure like that, you know. But at the end of the day, they’re always there anyways for me. So it’s kind of also a relief to have that kind of bond and family as a management as well.

Thiemo: A couple of questions to finish off then, just on the fact that you’ve been racing for eight years now, roughly. What’s something you’ve noticed with relationships with sponsors that’s maybe changed over the years? Because you saw recently that F1 Academy, when it came into existence, more female-focused brands that weren’t traditionally involved in motorsport at all suddenly became interested. Have you found it easier, more difficult or just something else entirely with approaching brands and sponsors to try and get them on board now from before? Or is it still as difficult as it’s always been?

Joanne: Well, so I’m so fortunate to have some of my own sponsors, which are Fleet Space, Kaboodle Kitchen, Nike and Cotton On. There’s some really big names out there in the Australian industry and also the worldwide industry. But I’m really grateful to have them on board because I think motorsport is so financially demanding and it’s honestly saying because there’s no sport like motorsport that’s just so expensive. And I think you can have the skill, you can have the performances, you can have the results. But at the end of the day, it comes down to the coin as well. And I think there’s a lot of drivers out there that missed out on an amazing seat because they haven’t had that backing. And so, yeah, it’s really wholesome to find support like that. I think it’s all about that.

And being a female, it’s been hard, harder to gain that. And that’s why I’m super fortunate. I’m grateful and I could talk about it all day. But I think that, yeah, I think experiencing different industries like makeup brands, hair brands, having an input in motorsport. Honestly, I think it’s quite smart and I think it’s quite good because you have a different audience that’s particularly female-dominated in industries involving themselves in sport. And I think their goal is obviously to have more females involve themselves in the sport.

And I think in getting these different industries and brands involved is definitely helping that. And yeah, I think just because a girl can wear makeup doesn’t mean she can’t perform on track. But yeah, I think without the stereotypes, I think it’s really, really, it’s a great idea.

Thiemo: And is there one thing you’ve noticed or seen inside the product that tells you that the landscape for women in motorsports is changing? Or what’s one thing that tells you it isn’t going maybe as quickly as it should be or as you’d like it to be?

Joanne: It’s a bit hard to kind of answer that because there’s still not much. And I don’t really kind of want to see, like personally, I like to see embracement, obviously for females involving themselves in the sport as a driver, mechanic, whatever. But I’m not here to say that women are better than men. I’m here to say that gender plays no role in talent. And motorsports, one of the only sports out there that you’re, you know, you’re a driver. You’re the one that controls the car. And gender doesn’t really play a role in that. Everyone has their own minds and everyone has their own skills.

Thiemo: Goes back to what you’re saying about when you were in karting and just wanting to be the best there. You didn’t think of anything of it.

Joanne: Yeah, it’s such a sport where, like, if you want it, you can get it, but you have to work to get that. And everyone else around you is working differently.

Thiemo: The Australian Grand Prix, you've got to go this year, and it looked like you had a great time. What was that like?

Joanne: Awesome. The Australian Grand Prix is definitely my favourite week of the year. Can’t believe it’s already finished. It’s chaotic for me because obviously I’m Australian. I have loads of requirements to do, but I’m just so excited because of the vibe and the excitement for the Grand Prix. It feels really at home because I’m from Melbourne. I’m at a racetrack. So being home, you know, it’s a great feeling. And I’m really looking forward to next year. Again, awesome, awesome race.

Thiemo: You’ve got great races, not just in F1 as well, F2, F3 and the Supercars. They all delivered across the weekend. So you really lucked out this year.

Joanne: Yeah, 100%. It was great to see some of the people that I’ve raced against participate in Formula 3 and seeing some of the Aussies out there do really well in Supercars. It was just, yeah, the Grand Prix is my favourite week of the year.

Thiemo: And final one, do you have any racing role models that you looked up to? I mean, we’re going to put Giancarlo aside, obviously, and Marco aside, because it feels like that’s the obvious answer there. But is there anyone else?

Joanne: Yeah, apart from the obvious, which is my managers, I have a backstory. When I was younger, there were no female role models at all. So I had to kind of have a role model like Michael Schumacher, Daniel Ricciardo. Actually, I was his good kid back in 2019. So that was awesome. Oscar Piastri, I started at the same go-kart club as him. Then I had people like Mark Webber. I loved Kimi Raikkonen, Max Verstappen. You can kind of see a pattern with the drivers that I like still to this day. Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Max Verstappen. They’re definitely some of my favourite Formula One drivers out there because I just love the hard work that they put in. I think that my racing story kind of relates to them somehow. But that’s just from a driver perspective. But growing up and seeing that there have been some females participating in the sport, Susie Wolff was always a huge inspiration as well.

Thiemo: Perfect way to end the interview.

Thank you again to Joanne and Pro Racing Motorsport for taking the time to arrange and conduct the interview with us. The 2026 Kyojo Cup begins May 8th - 10th at the Fuji International Speedway in Japan.

Enjoyed this interview? Have another driver you’d love us to interview in the future? Let us know who in the comments below.

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Joanne Ciconte was one of the newcomers to the 2025 F1 Academy grid last year. Finishing in P14 overall with multiple points finishes across the season, she was a natural standout, especially with how little experience in single-seaters she’d had prior to joining the series. In part one of our conversation, we looked back at her motorsport origins.

In this second part of our three part conversation with 2026 Kyojo Cup driver Joanne Ciconte, we take a look back at how the Australian-Italian came to be on the F1 Academy grid last season, what support from the likes of Giancarlo Fisichella and Marco Cioci means to her as well as what it looks like and how it felt to be racing alongside Formula 1 for the first time as one of the youngest ever drivers to ever compete in the all female series.

Thiemo: How did the opportunity to compete in F1 Academy come about?

Joanne: So that opportunity came to me because I progressed and I experienced driving in Formula 4. So that was an awesome opportunity. I drove for the Ferrari Driver Academy in the Girls on Track programme. That was my first time in a Formula 4 car. And then I have a management team, which is held by Giancarlo Fisichella and Marco Cioci, former Formula One driver and GT World Champion.

So I’m really grateful to have them on my team because they’ve helped me develop as a driver, but also came across the opportunity of F1 Academy. I did around five races and the F1 Academy kind of came to me. And I was really fortunate because it’s a bit of a shock to realise that someone like me with such little experience was able to achieve and participate in the F1 Academy grid in 2025.

And like, as I said, in 2024, like it was a dream to be in the Formula One Academy. And I had been aspiring and driving in these races to gain a seat. And it came to me quicker than I expected, but it was just, you know, awesome because I think F1 Academy, it’s a great series, really embracing female talent and giving us that spotlight.

As I said before, I think the biggest struggle for being a female in a male-dominated field is just finding that belief and that support and just, you know, finding that spotlight to showcase that, like, I’m not here to be a girl and I’m good. I’m here to be good, but as equal as the other boys, you know. I don’t want to be spotlighted on the fact that I’m a girl. I want to be spotlighted on the fact that I’m a driver.

Thiemo: I’m going to ask about Fisichella and Cioci because that’s quite a good combo to have behind you. When did Pro Racing Motorsport come into the picture? And how have they helped develop you behind the scenes and your racing journey in ways that might not be as obvious to others when you’re looking at your story so far?

Joanne: Yeah, so when I was in go-karts, I was never with any big teams, never had a manager, never had a driver coach. It was always just Dad and I. So my Dad was my mechanic, my Dad was my coach, and that’s just kind of how I grew up in racing. Anyways, I got introduced to a Girls on Track programme held by Ferrari and basically you put in an application about your achievements in karting and 150 girls worldwide put an application in for this programme. See, 150 sounds like a big number, but it’s not for worldwide considering how many karters you have around the world. So out of those 150 girls, the programme chose eight. Those eight girls had to fly to Italy. I was one of those girls and I flew to Italy and that was when I had my first Formula 4 experience.

We drove for the team Prema and little did I know we were actually driving a Formula 4 car and we were tested on physical fitness, mental capability, cognitive tests, reaction time stuff, just all these tests that Formula One drivers are tested on. And I had no idea about it! But I was fortunate enough to top the time sheets for the few days that we had. And that put me through to being one of the top four that they chose for the next camp.

So that was also held at Maranello, the Ferrari track at Fiorano. And after that, I did a little bit of training for some simulator work and my simulator coach said to me, I think you, how do I say this humbly, he said, “I think that you should, you know, give this management a try because I think you have potential and I’d love to see you race out there.”

And straight away, we got in contact with this management team and they were really happy to have me on board and they’ve helped me, just guide me throughout my racing journey in Formula. They’ve helped put me in different races, different teams. I’m really fortunate to have them as mentors because in motorsport, it is really important to have great connections as well.

Thiemo: What was that feeling like when you got the news confirmed that they were going to be your kind of your management team, as it were, and you went from, you went really from 0 to 60 in no time at all of going, oh, I’m going to Italy for this thing. And then it’s wildly different to what you may be expecting. And then off the back of that, you get this. Did you, did you take a little while for it to sink in or were you just kind of like, this is brilliant? I’m just really up for it.

Joanne: Yeah, I think it all took a lot to sink in, to be fair, like it was just a huge jump, like from going to karts to cars, as simple as I’m saying it, it was just kind of a big jump because I was racing, I was driving for the biggest Formula team out there in the world and driving at the significant Ferrari track. Like these are all phenomenal moments, part of my journey that I could never forget about. And then being picked up by, yeah, it just, it just happened in such a short period of time and being picked up by my management team.

That was just an incredible feeling because of course, like I’m a Formula One fan. My family are Formula One fans and we’re also half Italian. So having these two very, you know, they’re champions and they’re both Italian and you can’t even comprehend how much they know about the sport and how many connections they have. And it’s just incredible to have that backing. And what’s important about it is also that they feel like family. They really, you know, welcome me into the sport and I feel like I’m in great hands.

Thiemo: What does a typical working session, as it were, look like with those two? And what was it like meeting them for the first time?

Joanne: Oh, it was great. Like they, as I said, I think Italians to Italians, you have that connection straight away. And I think just their culture, just you could see it from a mile away, like they’re, they’re really loving, they’re really caring. They’re really, you know, passionate to help you. I think that the management itself, they’re just like this big family that’s really trying to find a Formula One champion for themselves as well. So I think that obviously they believe in my potential and they believe in my capability.

So it was, it was amazing to meet them. And I’m just so lucky to be in their hands.

“Having these two [Fisichella and Cioci], you know, they’re champions and they’re both Italian and you can’t even comprehend how much they know about the sport and how many connections they have. And it’s just incredible to have that backing. And what’s important about it is also that they feel like family.” - Joanne Ciconte

Thiemo: Then, you know, so, so working with them, do you, I’m guessing because of simply where you’re based more than anything else that’s done a lot online, what does that kind of look like? Do you have sort of weekly sessions, monthly sessions, that sort of thing? Or what does the support look like from those two? Or is it just kind of just the whole team as a whole and you just kind of go in and out of personnel in the team? And what does that sort of look like in terms of how much contact you have with them on a monthly basis?

Joanne: Yeah, so obviously we’re, we’re in touch with them every week. Like we’re getting opportunities thrown at us. There’s been a lot that we’ve turned down, a lot that we’ve said, yep, we’ll go and do, we’ll fly over there. Being in Australia has kind of put me at a disadvantage. I’m ahead of time. So I don’t really get to see everything in real time as they do. But I think that I love being an Australian and I love living here as well. So it gives me a good time to be 17 years old. But yeah, of course the distance is a bit hard. But I’m fortunate to have like catch up sessions with them every week, staying in contact with them until I’ve got a race to do.

Actually, I lived in Italy for about five months because they just wanted me around. I was doing training camps and different races at the time. So yeah, of course, I have to also be overseas in Italy doing a bunch of training and races for like a long period of time. But I think they do a really great job of like managing that I’m living in Australia.

Thiemo: I just want to go back to F1 Academy briefly. It was your rookie season last year and I think for a lot of people, it was, you were one of the drivers that was a good reason for watching F1 Academy because you were someone who a lot of people might not have known beforehand and you want that in F1 Academy. You want to see the new talent coming in to see what they’re capable of. What was that rookie season then like from your perspective? Because, like you say, you’re kind of over here in Australia for one minute, and then in what feels like five minutes, you get thrust into this manic world and you’re on the world stage in places like Shanghai and Canada racing on the same weekend as F1. Tell me about that because that’s got to be a bit nuts.

Joanne: Yeah, it definitely was nuts because it was just, it just all happened so quickly. Like, I wasn’t even able to do a full season in Formula 4 yet and I was fortunate enough to be noticed by Susie Wolff, who had spoken with my management team, and then the opportunity came to me and it was just, you know, so exciting to find out because I was aspiring to participate in the series. But little did I know it was going to happen that quick and again, like having that belief, it really motivated me.

And I think that like looking back to the series, I, you know, I enjoyed every single bit of it. And it’s just incredible because I was the youngest participant on the grid as well. I was just 16 years old. So by the time I knew I had an entry for it, I was 15 years old. So I was the youngest participant last year and I was competing at some of the biggest Grand Prix around the world. I mean, it was like a dream come true to be fair. It was just such an amazing experience travelling around the world, experiencing different atmospheres, the fans, the food, the tracks.

It was just, it all came in this package in such a short period of time. And I honestly can’t believe that we’re in 2026 now. It just flew by. But that’s how, you know, I really enjoyed the moment.

But I think there was just a huge different kind of level. I was racing previously. I did two races in the Spanish F4 and that was probably at the time, the most competitive Formula 4 series in the world. I had some good results, positive results, which allowed me to have an entry in F1 Academy. But the level in F1 Academy was quite different because I was racing against some of the biggest female talents.

Whether they had more experience than me or they were older, it was still such an opportunity to race against these girls because at the end of the day, we all had the same dream and it’s to be a female on that Formula 1 grid. But yeah, it was just cool with the pressure and the adrenaline constantly. It was an awesome experience.

Thiemo: With something like Spanish F4, you know, you’re more likely with the regional Championships, you’ll get drivers from other countries, but you’re more likely to get, you know, competitors from that specific country. Whereas with F1 Academy, it’s the first thing, a bit like F3 and F2, where it’s predominantly mixed from all over the place. So instead of just focussing on talent from one region or one country, you suddenly have to go up against arguably the best of everywhere and you have that dynamic to be thrown into that as well.

So that must have been a bit of an interesting feeling as well because I imagine that was the first time you had that properly. And when you got back from Vegas at the end of last year, again, how long did it take for that whole year then to sink in? And was there a particular moment that stood out to you as a favourite, be it something big or something small that other people might not know about?

Joanne: Yeah, I think the season itself was quite tough. I think it was just hard to really show my potential. I thought, obviously, when I’m out there and I’m driving, I gave it all. I gave it my best. But looking back on it, it was just hard for me to do more than I could have, whether that was restrictions with the team or having incidents. Again, it’s just racing. And I think that I can look back on it and I could say, oh, I wish or I could have. But as I said, I’ve learnt to develop mentally because when you’re in the moment, it’s so hard to think about all these things and the pressure is high and I’m racing in some of the biggest Grands Prix around the world against the best female drivers out there. And I could say that every race was my favourite. I can’t pick a favourite race because each track was just so cool itself.

But my biggest highlights where I performed well was probably on my debut, I qualified P6, which put me in P3 for race one. Unfortunately, I got a few penalties from my team that kind of resulted in me going basically to last. And then in Saudi Arabia, the fastest street circuit in the world, I got my first points there, which was awesome. Another one was Montreal. That was also cool. But that was a chaotic weekend. But that was a great track to race at.

And then we had also Singapore, which is probably hands down one of my favourite tracks on the calendar because I feel that it’s a real racers track. It’s important to get a good qualifying there. It’s quite a tight track, but very twisty, slow, fast. It’s got a mix of it all. And then we had a mix of weather conditions. So that just really made the race so exciting. And I was lucky enough to score points in the races. And in Vegas, yeah, I was in fifth, actually, in one of the races, and then I got a penalty. So the whole year was quite unlucky, I’d say, but I’m happy to have enjoyed every moment of it.

Come back for the third and final part of It’s Race Week!’s in-depth conversation with Joanna Ciconte, where we talk about why she stepped away from F1 Academy, her 2026 plans with the Kyojo Cup and much more.

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Looking back at the history of motorsport, both Australia and Italy have provided the world with a monumental amount of successful racing drivers. From Alberto Ascari and Jack Brabham all the way to Valentino Rossi and Will Power, the list is both a rich and an extensive one. This year, we’ll get to continue to witness the origin story of a driver produced by those two countries coming together - Joanne Ciconte - who aims to be the next driver on that list for both.

You may know her from her karting days, her rookie season in F1 Academy last year or the recent announcement that she’ll be competing in the Kyojo Cup in Japan in 2026. But if you don’t know her at all, then this is still the perfect place to rectify that.

“I always grew up thinking that I’m just a girl that has interest in the sport. And I never really thought, why am I the only girl? And I just, I don’t know, I just kind of grew up realising that it was quite normal to be the only girl.” - Joanne Ciconte

It’s Race Week! sat down recently with Joanne to chat about her motorsport career so far. From her origins in the racing world to that F1 Academy Season last year and what the future has in store for her, we cover it all as the seventeen year old has already packed quite a bit in. Below is the first part of our conversation with parts two and three coming soon. In this opening part, Joanne speaks about the beginning of her story, how she fell in love with racing and how she found her place in the world of motorsport.

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Thiemo: So the first question I ask everyone, because you never know when it might be slightly different, is what first got you interested in motorsport?

Joanne: So what first got me interested in motorsport was actually my brother. I have a younger brother who was the age of seven at the time and he started to go karting. So my Dad introduced him to go karts and I was always such a sporty kid. I loved playing different kinds of sports and seeing my brother go kart was incredible because it wasn’t like an average rental go kart, it was something much faster, much more complicated and I was so young and I was, so sorry, I was only actually nine, eight years old at the time. So I was very naïve and eager.

I really was just intrigued by that, by seeing him just so happy and excited and having a great time. So obviously, that sparked my interest in motorsport first. At the time my brother was my biggest inspiration and I had to kind of, you know, beg my way to have a drive of the go kart because seven, eight years ago when I was eight, nine years old, so back in a long time ago, there were no females in motorsport. It was more of a male-dominated sport back then. So for my Dad to see me being interested in motorsport or to even have a drive, it was a bit weird for him. I think he just assumed that I wouldn’t enjoy it.

So he kind of brushed it off. But after having to kind of persuade him and every time my brother would go kart, which was kind of leading up to every weekend, I was begging my Dad to let me have a go. And eventually that opportunity came to me and I fell in love with it completely.

Just experiencing that speed and adrenaline at a young age was really incredible.

Thiemo: You’re both quite glad now that you were as persistent as you were with this!

Joanne: Yeah!

Thiemo: So was it that first time seeing your brother in the kart that made you decide you wanted to at least have a go at becoming a racing driver? Or was there a different point where you were like, this is I want to do this and there’s nothing else that really interests me as much?

Joanne: Kind of both, because my brother is what sparked that interest in the sport. And then once I obviously continued and it kind of turned into the sport that I was doing full time back then, I was only so young. I was doing multiple things. I was doing basketball, swimming, tennis, singing, and then karting just came by. So then I showed a lot of dedication to the sport. And then eventually I had no other time for any other sports. I kind of just stuck with karting because it was my favourite at the time. And then slowly over time, after a couple of races, it started getting more competitive. I was showing great performances.

And then I think my Dad kind of just clicked and he realised, well, is this something that you want to continue doing? And is this what you want to do? And I no doubt said, of course, I really love the sport. But at that time, when I was around 9, 10, 11 years old, even up to when I was 14 years old, 15, I had no idea that I was going to be in Formula racing. I always dreamt of being in Formula One and am still dreaming to be in Formula One, but I had no idea that go karts could kind of lead me to a path of Formula racing.

But of course, that was the dream. But yeah, I knew what I wanted, this is what I wanted to do once I started getting quite good in the races that I was racing in.

Thiemo: Tell me about that first racing experience then, because did you have a go on the kart first just to get a feel for it, or did you go straight in at the deep end? And what was it like when you finally got that first taste of it?

Joanne: It was kind of both! So I did a couple of practises, but my Dad just basically shoved me into my first go kart race! He kind of pushed me there. My brother and I at the time actually shared a go kart for when we were practising until my Dad bought me my own go kart.

I was so excited. It was like, you know, I was a kid in the candy shop kind of feeling. And I had my first race and it’s a bit funny because you actually start with P plates. So everybody at the front knew I was like a back marker and I was going to be slow. But surprisingly, I did quite good in my first race. So I was quite happy at the time. But back then, you know, nothing was competitive. Everything was just purely for fun. And that’s why I think it’s really important to enjoy the moments.

Thiemo: Yeah, I think that lack of pressure then just helps you just focus on, like you say, enjoying the moments. And then ironically enough, you do a lot better when you don’t take it as seriously sometimes, because you don’t have that extra pressure on yourself. You’ve touched on it before, but obviously growing up in Australia, building a racing career as a young woman where that wasn’t really the norm. What was that experience like? And were there moments up to this point that made you think maybe this isn’t for me or maybe I should stop?

Joanne: Well, I think I didn’t have such a bad experience being a female in the sport because as I said, I started around eight years ago. And there were no girls at the time. There were absolutely no girls. You know, there was a big field of 49 boys and one girl, which was me. But my, you know, my qualifying and my pace, it was always at the top. So for me, I didn’t see at all like being a female in this sport was any different. I always grew up thinking that I’m just a girl that has interest in the sport. And I never really thought, why am I the only girl? And I just, I don’t know, I just kind of grew up realising that it was quite normal to be the only girl.

But now that I look back at it, it’s quite interesting because there were just no females that had any interest in the sport. And to look back now, there’s so many girls in the sport. And even to go to a racing track now, there’s a lot of girls, whether they’re a mechanic or a driver. So it’s incredible to see.

But I think one of the biggest struggles that I had to deal with was probably just belief because I think motorsport has just a huge misconception about female and men competing. And I just truly believe that motorsport is one of the only sports out there that when that helmet goes on, everybody is a different driver. Everyone has a different driving technique. And I think it’s just based off skill. And of course, physical fitness does apply. But I think everybody’s their own driver. It’s, I think, skill kind of outperforms that physical side of things, because at the end of the day, you can get that fast lap time. That’s what’s going to put you into first position.

So I think, yes, struggling. My biggest struggle being a female was just finding support and belief and just being able to believe in my ability.

Thiemo: And it’s the old saying of the stop watch, it doesn’t care one way or the other. It just wants the fastest time. You’re saying off track, did you have any negative experiences there with other people who you say you didn’t really notice that you were the only girl coming up through the ranks. But did you get any kind of negative response from other people? Or was it all pretty welcoming on the whole? Because sometimes you hear a bit of variety on all of that from when young girls are trying to get into motorsport.

Joanne: Well, when I kind of in my early stages of my career, so back when I was in karting, a lot of this relates to my karting years, because that’s when I feel like there were no girls at the time to being the only girl was quite unusual. But I think the only quite negative thing that I would get is my competitors just kind of being like, this girl beat me, like, you know, and like kind of trying to intimidate me or give me a salty look or go around the paddock and say something that I’m a girl and this and that or think I’m cheating because I’m a girl driving.

But I’m quite fortunate enough to have a mentality that motivates me when I come across stuff like that. I think that that’s kind of what’s driving me being so young and being the only female on the grid. A lot of that strikes me as they’re just annoyed that you beat them and treat you how they would have done if they had some kind of other advantage to get over some other drivers.

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Check back soon for the second and third parts of It’s Race Week!’s in depth conversation with Joanne Ciconte. Next time out, we’ll get into the story behind how she joined F1 Academy, the relationship she has with her management team, Pro Racing Motorsport, which includes Giancarlo Fisichella and Marco Cioci, and how she views her debut season in the Formula 1 support series.

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