The sound of a kart engine isn’t what most people associate with an 11-year-old girl. But for Atiqa Mir, that roar has become the soundtrack of a dream to become the first Indian woman to race in Formula One.
Born in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, and raised in Dubai, Atiqa grew up around motorsport. Her father, Asif Mir, a former Formula Asia vice-champion and one of India’s pioneering racers, introduced her to the world of karting. What began as curiosity soon turned into commitment. By the age of six, she was spending more time on racetracks than playgrounds.
The journey, however, has been anything but easy. Karting is among the most expensive sports in the world. Every race means travel across countries, specialised equipment, tyres, mechanics and relentless practice. While most children spend weekends with friends, Atiqa’s weekends revolve around training sessions, fitness, data analysis and races. She has also had to prove herself in a sport dominated by boys, often competing against older and more experienced drivers. Her family has repeatedly spoken about the financial and logistical sacrifices needed to keep her racing at the highest level.
The sacrifices have produced remarkable results. In 2023, Atiqa finished runner-up in the UAE IAME National Championship (Mini R category). In 2024, she became the first Indian to win the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy in Le Mans, one of the world’s most respected karting events. She was also selected for the F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive programme, becoming the first Indian and first Asian female to be chosen for the initiative.
Her rise has continued in 2026. Racing in Europe’s highly competitive Champions of the Future Academy, Atiqa became the first Indian to finish on the podium in the championship. Soon after, in Greece, she delivered a flawless weekend taking pole position, winning every heat race and the final becoming only the third driver in the series’ history to achieve a clean sweep.
For Atiqa, every race is another step towards Formula One. But her story is already bigger than podiums. In a country where motorsport rarely enters school conversations and girls have even fewer role models, she’s quietly changing what’s possible one lap at a time.
