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INTRODUCING AURELIA NOBELS: The PUMA driver on support from Ferrari, her love of Senna and her karting roots
The youngest driver on the 2024 grid, Aurelia Nobels has already made an impression in her rookie F1 ACADEMY campaign and she’s looking to make her mark on the second half of the season.
Ahead of the PUMA driver’s return to racing in Zandvoort, we got to know the Brazilian racer a little more as she detailed her journey so far, being a part of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and why she had to search around to pick the perfect car number.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RACING FOR?
“I started when I was 10 years old in Brazil with my brother. I started karting like every driver and then in 2021, I did the European Championships and the World Championships in karting. Then I started to do some tests in F4 and last year, I raced in Italian F4.”
WHAT’S YOUR RACING NUMBER THIS YEAR AND WHY DID YOU PICK IT?
“This year I'm racing with the number 22. I first wanted seven but it was taken. Then I wanted 16, which was also taken. So I was looking for numbers in their meanings and then I found 22. The meaning is to really work hard to achieve something and that's really what I am doing, so I chose 22.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE CHEAT MEAL?
“I love pasta, pasta every day!!”
DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOMENT YOU FIRST WANTED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL RACER?
“When I first drove in rental karts with my brother, they had a school there and I told my dad I really want to keep driving and to keep learning. That’s where I started and when I realised this is really what I want to do.”
WHAT THREE WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
“I am very determined, so when I want something, I’m going to do it until I achieve it. I’m very mature I would say and I try to always smile and be positive. This is something very important, also for the others; be positive and it's just better for everyone.”
WHAT’S THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
“I think the most important so far was to win the FIA Girls On Track, which is a programme for young girls and now I’m part of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy, which is helping me a lot. Now I’m in F1 ACADEMY, it’s a great opportunity with ART Grand Prix, so it’s amazing.”
WHAT DOES RACING FEEL LIKE TO YOU?
“It's really hard to explain with words. I just love the adrenaline, the speed, the overtaking, the racing. It's just amazing!”
DESCRIBE YOUR PRE-RACE RITUAL AND DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS?
“I warm up before jumping in the car, so I'm ready to race. Then I like to listen to music. I like music that can give me motivation. I like The Weeknd, I like anything but really something that can give me motivation to go out there and win. I focus on myself. I don't really like to speak to others, so I really can think of what I have to do in the race and then I jump in the car and race.”
IF YOU COULD RACE AGAINST ONE DRIVER PAST OR PRESENT, WHO WOULD IT BE?
“Senna because he's my idol and I really like the person he was on-track and off-track —the story he had and the way he really worked to achieve what he what he did.”
WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE CIRCUIT AND WHY?
“My favourite circuit is Spa, it's an amazing circuit, but I'm super excited to drive in Jeddah.”
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HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RACING STYLE?
“I’m clean but aggressive. Clean with the tyres so not to damage them and clean driving, but still aggressive to be fast.”
WHAT IS YOUR AMBITION FOR THE 2024 SEASON?
“Everyone wants to win the title. Of course, it’s not going to be easy because everyone is training a lot. It’s a very high level, so I’m really working hard, going on the sim and training, so we’ll see what we can do but this is the goal.”