Emma Felbermayr has joined Kick Sauber for the 2025 F1 Academy season.
Emma Felbermayr Becomes Ninth Entrant for the 2025 F1 Academy season
New talent joins the F1 Academy grid in 2025 as Emma Felbermayr prepares to debut with Kick Sauber. The Austrian driver, who will turn 18 next year, has also been announced as a Kick Sauber F1 Team representative.
She replaces the 2023 and 2024 Sauber driver, Carrie Schreiner.
We are excited to welcome Emma Felbermayr as our new @F1Academy driver for the 2025 season!
Can’t wait to see you on track Emma! 💚🏎️ pic.twitter.com/PHCgHCP0cC
— Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber (@stakef1team_ks) December 17, 2024
Operating under Rodin Motorsport, Felbermayr will take to the track in a single-seater for the first time at the season opener in Shanghai, China.
We are excited to announce that Emma Felbermayr will join the team for the 2025 @f1academy season, driving the @stakef1team_ks car operated by Rodin Motorsport 🙌
🔗 https://t.co/rJj06CvoRw#RodinMotorsport @RodinCars #F1Academy pic.twitter.com/Bl7t1v4FyS
— Rodin Motorsport (@RodinMotorsport) December 17, 2024
Early Beginnings
Beginning her motorsport journey at the age of seven, her early days in karting saw her compete in the Micro Class, followed by successful stints in the Mini and Junior categories.
By 13, she had made her mark on the international scene, finishing as the runner-up in the 2021 ADAC Ladies Cup. A year later, she entered the Senior category, competing in high-profile events such as the German Championship, WSK races, and the World Championship.
Felbermayr faced a setback in 2023 when a rib injury temporarily sidelined her. However, she returned stronger, transitioning to the KZ category and delivering standout performances. Notably, she qualified 23rd out of 119 drivers at the World Championship in Wackersdorf.
This year, she continues excelling, participating in all major shifter-karting events, including the World and European Championships, ahead of her move to single-seaters.
Reflecting on this milestone, Felbermayr expressed both excitement and gratitude:
“I’m proud and thrilled to be joining KICK Sauber F1 Team for the 2025 F1 Academy season. This is an incredible opportunity to take the next step in my racing career and to challenge myself at this exciting level.
“I’m looking forward to representing the team, growing as a driver, and making the most of the visibility and platform F1 Academy offers. I can’t wait to get started and see what we can achieve together!” – Emma Felbermayr.
READ MORE: Who Will Depart from F1 Academy after Abu Dhabi?
Vital Support
KICK Sauber F1 Team COO and CTO, Mattia Binotto, shared his enthusiasm for Felbermayr’s arrival:
“We are delighted to welcome Emma [Felbermayr] to the team as she prepares to make her F1 Academy debut in 2025. Emma is young but has already demonstrated her potential. We are eager to see her represent us on the international stage.
“Partnering with Rodin Motorsport for our F1 Academy operations enhances this journey, given their decades of experience and recent success in clinching the 2024 F1 Academy title. This marks the beginning of an exciting collaboration. Welcome to the family, Emma!” – Mattia Binotto.
Rodin Motorsport Sporting Director, Benn Huntingford, echoed these sentiments:
“We’re delighted to welcome Emma [Felbermayr] to Rodin Motorsport. She has shown great potential and resilience in karting, and we look forward to supporting her transition to single-seaters with F1 Academy.
The road ahead will be challenging, but with the combined expertise and resources of Rodin Motorsport and KICK Sauber F1 Team, Emma has a strong platform to succeed. We are grateful to KICK Sauber for entrusting us with this crucial step in her career.” – Benn Huntingford.
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Her Future
As part of her 2025 racing programme, Felbermayr will also compete in the Formula Winter Series and the Spanish F4 Championship. Both will be under Rodin Motorsport.
This schedule underlines her determination to gain valuable experience and refine her skills in preparation for the world of single-seater racing.
She comes from a family with a motorsport legacy. Her father and grandfather famously competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Felbermayr will continue this tradition on a global stage. Her debut in the F1 Academy promises to be a significant moment.
She joins Chloe Chambers (Red Bull Ford), Ella Lloyd (McLaren), Rafaela Ferreira (RB), Courtney Crone (Haas), Alba Hurup Larsen (Tommy Hilfiger), Nina Gademan (Alpine), and Alisha Palmowski (Red Bull) in what will be an exciting season. Nine other drivers are to be confirmed.
With her sights set on success and a strong support system behind her at Sauber, Emma Felbermayr’s journey to the F1 Academy grid is one to watch. The 2025 season will be an exciting chapter for this young driver.
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