Ferrari Academy Driver Aurelia Nobels joined F1 Academy for 2024 sponsored by Puma to drive for ART Grand Prix.
The young Brazilian driver was a member of the Ferrari Academy before her debut in F1 Academy, securing her place after winning her category of the FIA Girls On Track Rising Stars programme.
Sponsored by the athleisure brand Puma, Nobels was nominated to the grid as part of F1 Academy’s new rule changes.
After a successful inaugural season, F1 Academy struck a deal with Formula 1 for 2024 to contribute more direct funds to the all-female series and nominate drivers to the grid.
Part of this deal extended to F1 Academy sponsors and partners, with Charlotte Tilbury nominating Lola Lovinfosse to the grid.
Becoming an official partner of F1 Academy, Puma nominated Nobels to the grid and supplied her with a unique Puma livery as well as customised race suits for the entire grid.
The 17-year-old was born in Boston to Belgian parents, moving to Brazil at a young age and climbing up the ranks of their regional karting championships.
Winning the Senior category in the Girls on Track Rising Stars programme organised by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, Nobels secured a place in the Ferrari Driver Academy as well as the victory.
In 2022 she competed in the F4 Brazilian Championship with TMG Racing, going on to finish the season in 16th place with seven points.
Finishing 18th in Danish Formula 4, Nobels moved on to the Italian F4 Championship for 2023 driving for Prema Racing after switching from the Iron Lynx team.
Racing under the Brazilian flag, the young driver raced a brief campaign in the Formula 4 UAE Championship before leaving the series to join F1 Academy for its sophomore season.
Completing the ART Grand Prix line-up alongside McLaren’s Bianca Bustamente and Williams’ Lia Block, Nobels left the opening round in Jeddah with six points.
Speaking to F1 Academy, Nobels said: “I really want to win, but this is going to be very, very hard because the level is very high. But if I can show that I have the potential to be in the front and to fight for wins, that’s the most important and who knows if I can have another opportunity in showing this.
“Now I feel ready, I feel I have the potential to be assessed as one of the top drivers. It won’t be easy because there are tricky tracks, but they’re new for everyone.”
Nobels finished in seventh place in the first race of the 2024 F1 Academy season-opener in Jeddah but retired from the second race after an on-track incident.
She shared: “I haven’t driven on many of the tracks (before this season), only Barcelona and Abu Dhabi, so it’s going to be hard. We’ll try to learn the tracks as fast as possible and to see what to do or not, where to go and where to brake.
“I’m super happy! PUMA is a very big and important brand. To be able to represent them on track, it’s an opportunity that you don’t have every day so who knows what we can do.”
With the second of the seven rounds due to take place at the Miami International Autodrome on May 4th, Nobels will be on the hunt for podium finishes across the two races.
