Atiqa Mir Joins F1 Academy Drive Program as First Asian Female Driver

Eleven-year-old karting sensation Atiqa Mir from Srinagar has made history as the first Indian and Asian female racer selected for the Formula 1 Academy’s prestigious Discover Your Drive development programme. This milestone marks a significant moment for global motorsport representation.

An 11-year-old karting prodigy from Srinagar, Atiqa Mir, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the inaugural Indian and Asian female competitor chosen for the Formula 1 Academy’s elite Discover Your Drive driver development initiative.

The international program focuses on discovering and nurturing talented young female racing drivers globally. It delivers structured mentorship, advanced training, and technical development pathways designed to help athletes transition into the ranks of professional motorsport.

The selection of Mir represents a major breakthrough for Indian motorsport and the region of Jammu and Kashmir. Her inclusion underscores the rapid competitive ascent of one of the most promising young athletes in the country’s racing ecosystem.

Reflecting on her career path, Mir attributed her initial sporting inspiration to her father, Asif Mir, who guided her entry into the competitive racing landscape.

Mir stated to ANI that she engages in professional go-karting after watching her father, a former Formula Asia competitor and the first National Karting Champion of India, race in Dubai, which motivated her to follow his career trajectory.

She noted that she maintains a rigorous physical fitness regime and utilizes racing simulators to refine her track skills. Her professional karting journey commenced in 2021 when she entered the bambino racing category at 7 years old.

During the past several seasons, Mir has established a formidable international reputation across regional and global karting grids. She regularly challenges elite youth fields, drawing praise for her tactical maturity, raw pace, and defensive racecraft.

Her father characterized the selection as a transformative milestone for both their family and the broader Indian motorsport community.

Asif Mir emphasized that his daughter has secured benchmarks rarely observed in international racing, noting that she regularly races against and defeats male drivers across competitive grids in India, Asia, and European championships, which feature the most demanding fields globally.

As a veteran of Formula Asia and the first racer to win India’s National Karting Championship, Asif Mir noted that her continuous development highlights the expanding caliber of Indian racing talent on the international circuit.

Her developmental breakthrough has earned widespread commendations from the broader sports industry, with observers highlighting her achievements as a key framework of inspiration for young girls entering traditionally male-dominated athletic disciplines.

As she transitions into the next phase of her athletic training via the F1 Academy framework, the young athlete from Srinagar elevates India’s athletic profile on the global stage while carrying the competitive ambitions of a new generation of racers.

Future Outlook

The F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive initiative is poised to accelerate the track progression of female racers globally. By embedding young prodigies like Mir into a structured Formula 1 ecosystem, the program addresses historical gender imbalances in single-seater racing. Industry analysts project that this pipeline will yield the next generation of Formula 3 and Formula 2 contenders within the next decade, fundamentally shifting the demographic composition of international open-wheel paddocks.

FAQs

Who is Atiqa Mir?

Atiqa Mir is an 11-year-old professional karting driver from Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. She is the first female racer from India and Asia to be selected for the Formula 1 Academy Discover Your Drive development programme.

What is the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive program?

The F1 Academy Discover Your Drive is a global youth development initiative established by Formula 1. It aims to identify, mentor, and train elite young female racing talent to help them advance into professional single-seater motorsport categories.

When did Atiqa Mir start her racing career?

Atiqa Mir began competing in professional go-karting in 2021 at the age of 7. She started her career in the entry-level bambino karting category before advancing to international junior grids.

Who is Atiqa Mir’s father?

Her father is Asif Mir, a former professional racing driver who competed in Formula Asia. He also holds the distinction of being India’s first-ever National Karting Champion.