Red Bull will place three female drivers for the F1 Academy 2024
The Austrian company has embarked on the F1 Academy with its new program. The three drivers (Hamda Al Qubaisi, Emely De Heus, and Amna Al Qubaisi) and MP Motorsport race cars will be sponsored by Red Bull.
Red Bull is fully committed to its new program. The Austrian company has officially announced the arrival of three drivers in its new Academy program. Hamda Al Qubaisi, Emely De Heus, and Amna Al Qubaisi will participate in the 2024 edition of the F1 Academy (a 100% female competition in powerful single-seater cars between F3 and F4). Three new cars will enter the grid, operated by MP Motorsport and driven by Red Bull program drivers.
The direction of this department is led by Sarah Harrington. This new program is part of Red Bull’s commitment to offering opportunities to women. « The Red Bull program strives to be at the heart of diversity and equality within our sport, as specified in the official statement. « It aims to encourage more women not only to be fans of motorsport but also to take the wheel from a young age and provide them with a path to success. The program further expands Red Bull’s legacy in talent development by giving wings to young athletes in motorsport and beyond. »
The pilots
Amna Al Qubaisi
She is the most experienced driver in the group. The 23-year-old driver finished 6th in the previous edition of the F1 Academy with 117 points. She won two races: Spielberg and Barcelona. Her journey in motorsport began in karting at the age of 14. Throughout her career, the Emirati has competed in Italian F4 in 2018, in Formula 4 United Arab Emirates, Asian F3, and Regional Formula Championships.
Hamda Al Qubaisi
She is the younger sister of Amna Al Qubaisi. The 21-year-old athlete also participated in the 2023 edition of the F1 Academy. The Emirati achieved a 3rd place in the championship, with four race victories and 207 points. Just like her sister, she started in karting before moving on to the Italian F4 in 2019, and the UAE F4 in 2020. She made a comeback in the Italian F4 and then did FIA F3 tests at Magny-Cours.
Emely de Heus
The Dutch driver is also participating in her second season in the F1 Academy. At just 20 years old, the athlete finished 9th in the last edition. She triumphed in Barcelona and scored 87 points in the championship. After starting in karting, Emely de Heus raced in Spanish F4 in 2021 and then in the W Series. In 2023, the Dutch driver participated in the Formula 4 championship of the United Arab Emirates before joining the women’s championship.
The Academy Program Manager praised the Austrian group’s commitment to this 100% women’s competition. “We are thrilled to welcome Hamda, Emely, and Amna, three incredibly talented drivers, to the program,” said Sarah Harrington on the official Red Bull website. “This is a historic moment for us. It demonstrates our full commitment to the future of women’s motorsport. The F1 Academy provides an opportunity to promote real change in our industry and serves as an excellent stepping stone to ensure progress to the next level for drivers. It’s a pivotal moment for women in motorsport, and we look forward to seeing what this season has in store for us.”
For the 2024 season, Red Bull is sponsoring the three single-seaters (and the drivers) that will compete for MP Motorsports.
The opening of the F1 Academy season will take place on March 7th, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The competition will be held at seven different locations. Other sponsors for the three cars and driver partners of Red Bull Racing, Visa Cash App RB and Red Bull, are expected to be revealed in the coming days.
