Kareen Kaur: Singapore’s First Female F4 Driver
Kareen Kaur is Singapore’s first female driver to compete in Formula 4 and represents a promising wave of young talent charting a course to Formula 1.
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.
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.
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.
“Funding is still the biggest barrier. My biggest fear is not being able to continue racing because of limited funding, and that’s true for a lot of young drivers, especially female ones. If my presence at this level opens conversations with sponsors who want to back underrepresented talent, that’s already something.”
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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