Rafaela Ferreira signs with RB

RB have announced that they will be fielding Brazilian driver Rafaela Ferreira for the 2025 F1 Academy season.

Ferreira stepped up to single seater after achieving karting success in her home country, becoming the first women to score a pole position in the 2022 Copa Brasil de Kart, where she finished fourth in the Championship.

The following year she secured one podium in the F4 Brazilian Championship, racing at the Interlagos Circuit during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.

Returning for a second campaign this year, she made history as the series’ first female winner and currently sits fourth in the Championship, with two wins and a further five podiums to her name.

The team also took the opportunity to thank current driver, Amna Al Qubaisi for her hard work this season, with the Emirati driver set to depart F1 Academy as she reaches her maximum two-season stint.

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. I’m already preparing and am excited for next year!
Ferreira on the news.

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. F1 ACADEMY has been a great success this season, the exposure that it’s generated for women’s motorsport is revolutionary. I hope we can continue to inspire the next generation of female talent in motorsports, and we look forward to seeing Rafaela grow and flourish as a driver. The Team would also like to thank Amna for her commitment across the season, we look forward to watching her progress and wish her the best of luck in the next phase of her career.
RB Team Principal, Laurent Mekies.

We’ve been impressed by Rafaela’s performance this season and are very pleased to welcome her to the Team and work with her in F1 ACADEMY in 2025. Rafaela has great talent and potential and has already cemented herself as a race winner in Brazil. I’m looking forward to supporting her development and am excited to see what next season brings.
Red Bull Academy Programme Manager, Sarah Harrington.