Rafaela Ferreira signs with RB for 2025 campaign

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

Ferreira stepped up to single-seaters after achieving karting success in her home country, becoming the first woman to score a pole position in the 2022 Copa Brasil de Kart, finishing 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.

Speaking about joining F1 ACADEMY, Ferreira said she is looking forward to representing the Italian team and racing on a global stage.

"I'm extremely happy to be driving for the Visa Cash App RB Academy Programme in F1 ACADEMY in 2025,” she remarked. “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!"

RB Team Principal, Laurent Mekies added: "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."

Red Bull Academy Programme Manager, Sarah Harrington said: "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."

Visa Brazil Marketing Vice President, Carla Mita said: "We are thrilled to support Rafaela as she joins the Visa Cash App RB Academy Programme for the 2025 F1 ACADEMY season, Rafaela's talent and determination perfectly embody the spirit of our initiatives to empower women in all fields. Her journey and achievements are inspiring, and we are proud to be part of this exciting chapter in her career."

The team took the opportunity to thank current driver Amna Al Qubaisi for her hard work over the 2024 campaign, with the Emirati racer set to depart F1 ACADEMY at the conclusion of her maximum two-season stint, as per the series’ regulations.