Dubai [UAE], Mar 22: India’s 11‑year‑old Formula 1 hopeful Atiqa Mir has exceeded expectations in her debut year of karting in the highly competitive 12‑14 age category on the European circuit, a release stated.
Racing remains a male‑dominated sport, and older boys often try to “bully” her on the track. Backed by special talent and the distinction of being the first Indian to be supported by the Formula 1 Academy, Atiqa does not shy away from firing back in wheel‑to‑wheel battles.
Fast‑tracked from the mini (8–12) to the OKN‑J (Junior) category (12–14) due to her exceptional ability, Atiqa has drawn attention in the paddock with her blistering speed. She is not only the top‑performing Indian karter on the global stage but is also leaving much of the male field behind in grids that can include up to 40 karts.
She began the season with a scorching P2 in qualifying at the WSK Super Masters, later securing a podium finish (classified third) in the European leg of the Champions of the Future Academy series in Valencia earlier this month. While collecting accolades in karting, her ultimate goal is to reach the pinnacle of motorsport—Formula 1, where no woman has raced since 1992.
The Dubai‑based racer from Jammu and Kashmir idolises four‑time world champion Max Verstappen, and many believe his aggressive style has shaped her fiery approach on track. “Motorsport is a mixed‑gender sport yet male‑dominated, which is why many females are not in Formula 1, but belief and confidence will take me there one day,” Atiqa said from Italy, where she is currently racing.
On‑track bullying from boys no longer unsettles her. For Atiqa, gender has never been a barrier; her focus stays firmly on evolving as a driver with every race in her blossoming career. “Sometimes they brake‑check me, which is pretty normal these days since there’s no penalty in karting for that. Sometimes they hit me too, but I’ve learned to handle it over time,” she said, talking about the intensity of her battles.
Atiqa comes from a racing family: her father, Asir Mir, is India’s first national karting champion and a former Formula Asia vice‑champion. Yet he never pushed her into motorsport. She fell in love with racing after watching the epic 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title showdown between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
“I did not start because of my dad, and there was no big dream to race in Formula 1 initially,” she recalled. “I didn’t even know about Formula 1 until 2021. The first race I actually watched on TV was the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and that overtake by Verstappen is still in my mind. It really motivates me.”
Atiqa has a long road ahead before her Formula 1 dream can be realised, but for now, she is steadily conquering one male‑dominated series after another.
