Maya Weug: Rising Star of F1 Academy and Ferrari’s Future Champion
Discover Maya’s incredible journey through the world of motorsport, her champion mindset for the 2025 season, and her insights on the role of women in racing — plus valuable advice for aspiring drivers chasing their dreams.
Can you introduce yourself and your career in motorsport?
Yeah! I’m Maya Weug, I’ve been racing since I was 7 years old. When me and my brother got a kart for Christmas which made me fall in love with racing straight away. I started in karting in Spain, where I bacame vice Spanish Champion and won the Copa de Campeones in 2016 . That gave me the chance to race internationally and at the end of my first season karting internationally I won the WSK Final Cup, then I continued karting at the highest level until 2020, where I got the change to participate at the FIA WIM Girls on Track Rising starts program which gave me the opportunity to join the Ferrari Driver Academy and start racing in Formula 4. Now I’m already in my 5th season in the Academy andthis year I’m representing Ferrari in the F1 Academy championship.
How did you discover motorsport?
It kind of happened naturally. My dad was into motorsport and he went karting in the weekends as his hobby so I always enjoyed joining him and spending my time at the kart track, and then when I got to try it I fell in love with he speed and the adrenaline you get when in a kart.
Did you immediately like it?
Yes I did, I still remember exactly the first time I drove a kart, not just the speed and the adrenaline but also the freedom you get when going fast was amazing. It was an amazing day because my whole family was there, my brother also drove that day for the first time, then there were my parents and grandparents too and my little brother who was only one week old but I guess he won’t remember much from that day.
What do you like about this sport?
A part from what I already said, the speed and the adrenaline, I am a super competitive person so I love the challenge and to keep improving and trying to win every time. I love the team spirit around it an I also really enjoy the techical part about racing, which helps me understand better what happens when I’m driving the car.
Do you have a routine before a race or a race weekend?
I have a small warm up routine that I always do but that is quite simple, so I always have to do the same amount of repetitions of the exercises I do at a warm up for instance. After that not much I only always jump in from the left side of the car.
What’s the race you dream to do?
I would love to race at Suzuka in F1 because I think the track looks amazing, but as a single race I would love to do the 24 hours of Le Mans once in a lifetime.
What does it mean to you and bring you to be part of the Ferrari driver academy?
It means a lot as without them I don’t know how I would have made the jump from karting to single seaters, I gained so much knowledge and experience thanks to them as well and of course having had their support both on and off track the past five years has been really important to me.
What’s your mindset about the 2025 F1 Academy season?
My mindset is to win the championship, to extract the maximum every weekend and work well with the team to always be ready and prepared ahead of every situation and condition.
Have you ever encountered comments about the fact that you are a woman in this industry?
Not really to be honest, I’ve never felt discriminated because I was a girl. Of course guys don’t like it too much when a girl finishes in front but as long as you show you’re fast everyone respects echother on track.
And do you think it will get better with time?
I believe the view of woman in our sport is improving every day, when I started karting I was the only one or one of the very few girls at the track. Now much more girls are racing in karting which is the foundation of motorsport, which is thanks to all the programs that are being created to help to get the support for us to race. Like in my case If it weren’t for being a part of the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy in my last years of karting and then winning the FIA WIM Girls on Track Rising stars· I believe the view of woman in our sport is improving every day, when I started karting I was the only one or one of the very few girls at the track. Now much more girls are racing in karting which is the foundation of motorsport, which is thanks to all the programs that are being created to help to get the support for us to race. Like in my case If it weren’t for being a part of the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy in my last years of karting, and then winning the FIA WIM Girls on Track- Rising stars program I would definitely not be where I am today. And then F1 Academy is giving so many opportunities not only to us drivers but to any female trying to get into the sport which is super important as well .
Do you have any advice for people who would like to try motorsport?
I would say to just go for it, if it’s your passion then you will have to work hard and do everything you can to achieve your goals. But definitely don’t think too much about what everyone else says about you just follow your dream, work hard and never give up.
Do you have any goal for your future ?
I love racing and my goal is to be able to be a professional racing driver and win a lot of races.
What’s your favourite memory regarding motorsport?
I have so many good memories in motorsport that it would be impossible to choose one. I definitely think winning the WSK Final Cup in 2016 is big highlight as it was my first year racing internationally and we were doing it in a small tent at the back of the paddock. Actually that season I was always collecting the old tires other teams would throw away to use them myself for free practice and to pay off the inscription bills for that racing season. Then of course joining the Ferrari Driver Academy was a dream come true for me and a moment I will never forget.
What’s your biggest achievements in motorsport?
I hope there are still plenty to come, but being vice Spanish champion, winning the Copa de Campeones, winning the WSK Final Cup and I would say joining the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy are the best ones yet.