This teenage racer could become Singapore’s first F1 driver

For most people, the thought of speeding around a racetrack at over 200km/h doesn’t sound particularly relaxing. But for Singaporean motorsports driver Kareen Kaur, the race car is her happy place.

“I love the feeling of being on track, knowing that there is always something to improve,” says Kareen, who takes an analytical approach to racing.

“Even if you have a good race, you can always look at the data and find another corner, another braking point or another way to make things better,” she says.

“That’s what keeps me motivated, along with the fact that the race car is my calm space. Amidst the roaring engines, I find my peace.”

That sense of calm will serve her well, considering she looks set to spend many more years in the driver’s seat, thanks to her successes on the track. Luckily, she made a brief pit stop to give us the lowdown on her career to date.

Like most motorsport athletes, Kareen’s love affair with speed started with karting.

“I was nine years old, having lunch with my father at Turf City, near Bukit Timah. I saw the karting track and wanted to have a go. I went out for my first session and did pretty well, and on my second attempt, I did even better. I didn’t really know where it would take me – I just enjoyed driving and the feeling of being on track.”

Before long, she caught the attention of a karting team. “The 29R Racing Development team reached out, and what started as something I simply wanted to try became something I wanted to keep doing.”

Kareen then progressed through Cadet karting before moving into the Junior and Senior categories, quickly racking up wins across the continent.

“Before long, I was competing across Asia, including in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines,” she recalls.

By 2025, Kareen’s need for speed was delivering consistently impressive results.

“I had some of my strongest karting results, finishing third in the ROK Cup Singapore Championship while also doing well in the ROK Cup Asia Championship,” reveals Kareen.

The natural next step was a move into single-seater racing. “I switched to cars and started racing in F4 in 2025,” she says.

Short for Formula 4, F4 is an entry-level category of single-seater racing designed as a stepping stone for young drivers progressing from karting towards higher levels of motorsport.

“I competed in F4 India and F4 Southeast Asia, which was a completely different challenge from karting. The cars are much heavier, and there’s more to understand – the braking, the tyres, the downforce and how the car behaves.”

In August 2026, the F1 Academy came calling.

“I was invited to Europe to test for the F1 Academy. I didn’t have experience racing on European circuits, and it gave me the opportunity to be assessed against European standards,” she shares.

It proved to be a valuable learning experience, too. “Only 18 female drivers were selected, and it was my first time experiencing that kind of environment, so I learned a lot from it.”

Kareen clearly made an impression: she was subsequently selected for the F1 Academy Rookie Test, which will take place later this year.

Another skill she’s had to hone along the way? Balancing her studies with racing.

“I try to plan ahead,” says Kareen, who somehow also finds time to play for her school’s netball team. “Motorsport has taught me to be more disciplined with my time, and having great support from my parents and school really helps.”

She can also count on a tight-knit group of friends. “My friends will often ask me lots of questions, simply because racing isn’t something many people we know do,” says Kareen.

“They’ll ask me about my races and where I’m travelling to next. I’m lucky to have friends who are genuinely interested in and supportive of what I do.”

Keeping a close eye on athletes she admires provides another source of motivation. “I admire athletes like swimmer Joseph Schooling and track athlete Shanti Pereira because they’re proof that Singaporeans can compete at the highest level.

“I also admire [British racing driver] Abbi Pulling, because of how she’s built her career through hard work and consistency.”

Abbi, the winner of the 2024 F1 Academy Drivers’ Championship, became the first woman to win a race in the GB3 Championship in 2025.

Kareen’s calendar is quickly filling up. Currently, she’s preparing for the Formula Trophy Malaysia, an F4 series that runs alongside Formula 1 in Malaysia, as well as the China GT Championship and the Sepang 12 Hours, an annual endurance race held at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.

It should come as no surprise that her ultimate goal is Formula 1. In the meantime, though, she’s enjoying the ride – and taking pride in representing Singapore along the way.

“It’s always special to see the Singapore flag alongside my name,” says Kareen. “Motorsport teaches you that things won’t always go your way – you might face mechanical issues or have a crash.

“Then I have two options: I either get stuck in a bad experience and complain, or I learn from it and push myself to become stronger physically and mentally.”