Rafaela Ferreira

With a season of experience behind her, Rafaela Ferreira enters 2026 looking to use that knowledge as a springboard to success in F1 ACADEMY.

The first woman to score a pole position in the 2022 Copa Brasil de Kart, Ferreira continued to make waves on her move into single-seaters the following year. In front of her compatriots, she claimed her maiden podium in the F4 Brazilian Championship at the Interlagos Circuit during the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend — making her the first woman to earn a podium finish in the series.

Those foundations paved the way for a breakthrough campaign in 204, as Ferreira became the Championship’s first female winner. She ended the season fourth overall, collecting three victories, two pole positions and a further seven podiums.

Racing outside South America for the first time, her rookie F1 ACADEMY season brought new challenges. Seven points-scoring finishes followed, including the high of a P5 finish on debut in Shanghai. Further success followed at home, as Ferreira reached the top step at the São Paulo Grand Prix with two-round Brazilian F4 appearance.

Retained by Racing Bulls for a second shot at glory, the 20-year-old is ambitious push higher up the order than her 12th-place finish in the Standings.