Vettel: There is still a race to win for Saudi women in motorsport

Now known as “V5” – a reference to his name and former F1 car number – Vettel oversaw a special two-day training event on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 April, held at The Track, a purpose-built 10,000m² karting facility with a 1,000-metre tarmac circuit located near the Saudi Stadium, around half an hour from the Formula 1 venue.

Vettel said: “There is still a race to win. Whether in biodiversity, social issues, or here in Saudi Arabia, there are still challenges worth racing for.”

The academy brought together 20 Saudi women aged 14 to 24, all clad in white race suits, to learn the fundamentals of racing, including on-track skills, simulator training, physical fitness, and motorsport theory. The group also received media training and mentoring from professional female racers affiliated with Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin.

F1 Management acquired the filming rights for the event, capturing Vettel’s hands-on involvement and interviews during breaks from trackside mentoring.

Vettel continued: “#Race4Women challenged me when I was still at Aston Martin. You need to push for grassroots here in Saudi to allow them to come to Europe. What began as a first taste of karting in 2021 has grown into a real passion for some of these women.”

Since women in Saudi Arabia were granted the right to drive in 2018, Vettel has become increasingly involved in championing gender inclusion in motorsport. He first launched a karting event for Saudi women during the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend and has continued to support initiatives aimed at helping female drivers chart a path toward international competition.

The Track now regularly hosts a “Ladies Cup,” and several participants from the current programme have ambitions to pursue racing careers in Europe.

With the support of the Saudi government and partners such as Pirelli, the facility includes a 300-seat outdoor grandstand and 300m² of climate-controlled indoor space, providing a professional environment for future talent to flourish.

Vettel concluded: “This is a social project – but it’s also about giving these women the opportunity to believe they belong in motorsport. It’s a race worth running.”