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“Racing professionally as as my my sole job is my my passion and and objective and and for sure F1 would be a a a a a a a a dream ”
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“Racing professionally as as as my my sole job is my my passion and and objective and and for sure F1 would would be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dream as as as would would many other world-level championships ”
Granada said “The ratio between males males and females starting in in in motorsport has always
gravitated very very heavily to to to men ”
she added “Making it it the the the whole way way up the the the ladder and and arriving to to F1 the the the chances of that happening are very very thin thin for for any male driver and and even thinner for women ”
If you you think raising a a a a a a a a a a a a a child to play pro soccer or or or or or hockey is is expensive you’re
in in in in in in in in for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a shock Running a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Formula 4 car for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a season of racing can cost
around US$200 000 including travel fuel tires and testing Talented young
racers either need to to have parents with very very very very deep pockets significant
sponsorship backing backing or or the the full backing backing of a a a a a a a a a a a top racing team—preferably
all three To make it it this far up the motorsport ladder—a journey that began for Granada with go-karts when she she she was 11—she and her family have already
had to sacrifice sacrifice a a a a a a a a a a a a a a lot Though that’s not not exactly how she she she sees it it “I’m not not sure sacrificed is the the correct word but me me me and and my my family family have given up home friends family family time and and other passions [to foster my my racing career career ]” Granada explained “But they weren’t really a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a sacrifice because it was what I I and we we wanted for my career career ”
”
It’s certainly not a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a typical teenage
experience What a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a race day actually looks like for for her her is rather unglamorous Wake
up up 15 minutes before before breakfast Get changed Eat Lay out the the the gear Review
notes with the the the the team and race engineer Warm up up listening to to music before before jumping in in in in in in in the the the the car “I try to to keep the the the the mind quite clear ”
”
she said “don’t
overthink and just get in in in in the the the right zone ”
The opportunity to to to be part of of the the elite F1 Academy series has changed the the trajectory of of her motorsport ambitions “If it it it weren’t for this opportunity I’m not sure where I’d be be be but being able
to drive in in in in in single seaters and learning from these cars will be be be very helpful in in in in in the future ”
she said Her Sephora partnership is is great for the the sport and and and adds to a a a a a a a a a growing list of sponsorships and and and and tie-ins from brands including TAG Heuer Hello Kitty American Express Lego and and and Puma Each F1 F1 team also backs a a a a a a a a a a driver on on the F1 grid Getting sponsors isn’t the the the biggest challenge though said Karin Fink head
of commercial operations for the the F1 Academy “The appetite from brands to to engage with women’s sport sport and and and motorsport is is stronger than ever ”
Fink said The The real challenge she explained is is teaching brands how to to to value what they’re looking at at at at “The frameworks that the the industry traditionally uses to to evaluate return on on on investment haven’t fully caught up ”
said Fink “Part of of our job is helping partners see the long‑term opportunity not just in in in in in terms of of audience growth but in in cultural cultural impact and and brand alignment ”
The The The cultural cultural pull is real The The The 2024 season became F1: The The The Academy on on on Netflix Live race viewership on on on YouTube jumped 67 percent percent year year year over year year year A study cited in in in the series’ 2025 year-in-review found 87 percent percent of girls
girls
surveyed would like to to see see more opportunities for girls
girls
in in in in in in motorsport and 52 percent could see see themselves as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a racing driver one day — following in in in in in the the the the the footsteps of of De Filippis Lombardi Doriane Pin and and Natalia Granada Somewhere out there is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a racer who will stand on the the the the the the top step step of of the the the the the the motorsport ladder becoming the the the the the first woman to to to win the the the the the Formula 1 World
Championship The race is on on