F1 Academy was created to provide young female drivers with the opportunity to prove themselves on the international stage and get a real chance to continue their careers in professional motorsport. One of those who is most successfully using this opportunity today is 19-year-old Austrian driver Emma Felbermayr. With the support of the Audi Formula 1 Team, she remains the only participant in the current season who has managed to score points in all races held.
The championship is now in its fourth season. The calendar includes 14 races, combined into six rounds, held on tracks well-known from Formula 1. By mid-season, Felbermayr had recorded two victories. By this metric, only Red Bull representative Alisha Palmovsky, who has won three races, is ahead of her.
Before the end of the championship, the participants still have to complete:
- two races in Zandvoort;
- three races in Austin;
- two final starts in Las Vegas.
Thus, the Austrian athlete still has good chances to compete for the championship title in her second and final F1 Academy season. According to the series regulations, drivers can compete in it for no more than two years.
Victories that began last season
Felbermayr's successful performances did not begin this year. She achieved her first triumph in F1 Academy back in the 2025 season, competing for Rodin Motorsport under the Sauber brand, which later transformed into the Audi project.
Moreover, her strong point is not only the races themselves. The Austrian regularly demonstrates high speed in qualifying, successfully makes breakthroughs from the back of the grid, and consistently achieves good results regardless of whether a reverse grid is used.
During the Formula 1 event in Montreal, journalists spoke with Felbermayr about her career, first steps in karting, and future plans. The first impression of the athlete might have created an image of a rather shy person who still lacks experience communicating with the press, especially compared to Audi's Formula 1 drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. However, during the conversation, it became clear that the reason was not a lack of preparation at all, but her natural openness and simplicity.
Family, Audi, and Susie Wolff's Support
Felbermayr noted that her family, Audi management, and F1 Academy head Susie Wolff play a big role in her development. According to her, she is supported by her father and grandfather, who also participated in the "24 Hours of Le Mans" races in their time.
The Austrian driver emphasizes that she tries to use every opportunity given. She calls herself an open person and admits that she does not seek to rush things. For her, the main thing remains working on current tasks, and her future career should develop thanks to today's results, not premature expectations.
After busy race weekends, the athlete, like many of her peers, enjoys a quiet evening watching TV series on Netflix.
From Karting to International Competitions
Felbermayr's interest in motorsport appeared in her childhood.
She said that:
- she first sat in a kart at the age of seven;
- her older brother, who started karting a year earlier, was an example;
- at first, racing was a hobby and was limited to national competitions.
When Emma was 12–13 years old, she decided to test her skills on the international stage. That's when the transition to more serious championships took place.
According to her, this stage was particularly difficult. Most rivals started competing at the international level at the age of eight to ten, while she debuted only at 13. Because of this, she had to quickly master skills that her competitors had already possessed for several years.
Later, Felbermayr participated in one major international championship that combined the world championship, the European championship, and the WSK series. She remembers this period as extremely intense.
The car was not the most difficult part
The transition from karting to F1 Academy was accompanied by new challenges. However, the athlete believes that the main difficulty was not controlling a faster car at all.
According to her, it was much more difficult to get used to the attention from the public and the media. While in karting almost no one watches the drivers, performances in international formulas are accompanied by constant interest and additional psychological pressure.
In addition to participating in F1 Academy, Felbermayr also competes in the Italian Formula 4 championship, so she has to cope with several programs simultaneously. Constant flights and the need to quickly adapt to new conditions have also become a significant burden.
Season Preparation Paid Off
Evaluating the current championship, Felbermayr admits that she is now making the most of the available opportunities. According to her, in her debut season, she felt much less confident because everything was happening for the first time.
Over the winter, the team and the driver herself worked hard on preparation. Joint work with Rodin Motorsport allowed them to eliminate many difficulties that existed a year ago, thanks to which the athlete approached the championship much more confidently.
She notes several factors that helped achieve progress:
- better preparation in the off-season;
- accumulated experience from last year;
- better understanding with the team;
- understanding of the car's features and the championship itself.
Felbermayr reminds that she debuted in the series almost immediately after karting, so the first season was especially difficult for her.
Training, University, and Fighting Jet Lag
Preparation for competitions includes not only track work.
Every day, the athlete trains in the gym, combining strength exercises and cardio depending on the program. Audi provides her with the support of physiotherapists, nutritionists, helps with the selection of electrolytes during race weekends, and advises on preparation for races.
Special attention is paid to combating the effects of jet lag. According to Felbermayr, last year she underestimated the impact of jet lag. Now the athlete tries to adjust her sleep schedule in advance at home, as she sometimes arrives at the stage only a day before the start of the competition.
In addition to competing in motorsport, she is simultaneously studying at university, so she has to combine studies, training, and a busy championship calendar. Despite the heavy workload, the driver is convinced that any activity should bring pleasure, otherwise it becomes much more difficult to achieve success.
After the stages, Felbermayr prefers to spend time with friends, dine out, or simply relax watching TV series. According to her, a quiet evening with Netflix after a busy race week remains one of the best ways to recover.
It's Too Early to Think About Formula 1
The conversation also touched upon the topic of her future career. The examples of former F1 Academy participants served as a reason. Series champion Dorian Pin got the opportunity to test drive a Mercedes Formula 1 car, and Abbi Pulling continued her career in the GB3 championship and simultaneously participates in Formula E tests.
Felbermayr considers such stories excellent motivation, but she is not in a hurry to set similar goals for herself. She notes that Dorian Pin's path included performances in the LMP2 category, whose cars are significantly more complex than F1 Academy technology.
According to the Austrian athlete, a direct transition from Formula 4 to Formula 1 would be too big a leap due to the huge difference in downforce levels. That is why her attention is now fully focused on her own development, gradual progress, and the most successful performance in the current championship. Only after that, Felbermayr believes, will it be possible to think about the next stage of her career.