Brazilian F4 winner Rafaela Ferreira is set to join the Visa Cash App RB team for the 2025 F1 Academy season.
The young driver became the first female winner in the Brazilian F4 series, scoring a podium in the 2023 season finale.
Ferreira was born in Santa Catarina, Brazil, and competed in national karting championships across the country before stepping up to single-seaters.
In 2022 she became the first female driver to earn a pole position in the Copa Brasil de Kart championships.
She has since won two races in her sophomore season of Brazilian F4 and secured seven podium finishes so far.
Ferreira said: “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.”
Ferreira will join F1 Academy as a member of the Red Bull Academy Programme through VCARB, racing one of the three RB-operated cars on the field.
VCARB Team Principal Laurent Mekies said: “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.”
