Rafaela Ferreira has officially joined the roster for the 2025 F1 Academy season, where she will represent RB.
Rafaela Ferreira has joined RB for the 2025 F1 Academy season. This is a breakthrough opportunity for the Brazilian who will step in to replace Amna Al Qubaisi. Al Qubaisi has reached her two-season stint in the series. This cap ensures more talent reaches the grid to gain track experience. It also allows for drivers to move across to other feeder series’ such as FRECA.
Welcome to the team 💙 Rafaela Ferreira will be joining VCARB for the 2025 F1 Academy season 👊 pic.twitter.com/KMH5V1ADXa
— Visa Cash App RB F1 Team (@visacashapprb) October 30, 2024
“I’m extremely happy to be driving for the Visa Cash App RB Academy Programme in F1 ACADEMY in 2025,”
“This opportunity represents a big step in my career, and is a dream come true to work with a team that has so much talent. I’m determined to give my best and go after great results. It’ll be something new for me, but I’m confident that we will achieve a lot together. I’m already preparing and am excited for next year!”
This follows Chloe Chambers’ appointment at Red Bull Ford and Ella Lloyd’s move to McLaren. So far, the 2025 grid will have two rookies while Chambers is the only returning driver confirmed.
Career Highlights
In 2022, Ferreira made history. She became the first woman to secure pole position in the Copa Brasil de Kart in the F4 Graduated category. This achievement set the stage for Ferreira’s rise through Brazilian motorsport so far.
Ferreira joined the F4 Brazilian Championship in 2023, racing with TMG Racing. She quickly made headlines as the first woman to reach the podium in the series. Here, she claimed a third-place finish at the Interlagos circuit.
The Brazilian returned to the F4 Brazilian Championship in 2024, continuing her partnership with TMG Racing. She became the first woman to secure a race win in the championship. She achieved notable victories in Buenos Aires and Mogi Guaçu.
Ferreira currently holds fourth place in the standings, boasting seven podium finishes, two pole positions, and two fastest laps, showcasing her skill and consistency.
Future
Although testing for the upcoming F1 Academy season has yet to commence, and unlike her two peers, she did not participate in the all-female Formula E testing session last week, the future remains bright for Rafaela Ferreira.
RB Team Principal, Laurent Mekies shared: “Everyone at the team is hugely excited to welcome Rafaela to the VCARB family. Rafaela is an exceptional emerging Brazilian talent, and we’re pleased to share this global, and empowering, platform to compete, race, and grow together.”
Red Bull Academy Programme Manager, Sarah Harrington, spoke about the 19-year-old: “We’ve been impressed by Rafaela’s performance this season and are very pleased to welcome her to the team and work with her in F1 Academy in 2025. Rafaela has great talent and potential and has already cemented herself as a race winner in Brazil. I’m looking forward to supporting her development and am excited to see what next season brings.”
Visa Brazil Marketing Vice President, Carla Mita, expressed her excitement: “We are thrilled to support Rafaela as she joins the Visa Cash App RB Academy Programme for the 2025 F1 Academy season. Rafaela’s talent and determination perfectly embody the spirit of our initiatives to empower women in all fields. Her journey and achievements are inspiring, and we are proud to be part of this exciting chapter in her career.”
With a focused approach to her development in the F1 Academy, Ferreira’s growing experience and adaptability are sure to make her a driver to watch in the coming season.
