Joanne Ciconte is fully focused.

      Joanne Ciconte may be just 16 years old, but unlike many of her peers, she has mastered the skill of driving rather than just learning it. "I began karting at a very young age, and from the first moment I got behind the wheel, I knew racing was my passion," says the F1 Academy rookie from Melbourne during a break between the Singapore Grand Prix and her final race of the season in Las Vegas. She acknowledges that her career path is unconventional, especially considering she started at the age of 9—yes, that's correct. "It is a bit wild," she admits. "While most people my age are still learning to drive on public roads, I'm racing at speeds over 200 kilometers an hour." Ciconte is among 18 drivers chosen to compete in the F1 Academy—the female-only racing championship at Formula 4 level—beginning in 2025. Established in 2023 by Formula One to prepare the next generation of female drivers for success in motorsports, the program has already garnered a Netflix series produced by Reese Witherspoon and highlighted stars like Abbi Pulling and Bianca Bustamante. Ciconte is poised to be the next breakout star.

      Those who follow her journey know that the young Australian is a formidable presence on the racetrack. In Australia, she developed her skills by progressing through go-karting and later in single-seater racing. In 2023, she won the esteemed Australian Karting Championship Pink Plate and then joined the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)'s Girls on Track - Rising Stars initiative, where she showcased her talent to the organization overseeing motorsport, including F1. From that point, all indications led to F1 Academy. She signed up for the series’ third season, collaborating with fellow drivers Alba Larsen and Maya Weug on the MP Motorsport team. During the fourth round of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montréal, F1 Academy announced a partnership with Wella Professionals, and Ciconte was chosen to race in the brand's vibrant crimson car.

      Even with her thorough preparations for each race weekend, Ciconte's rookie season in this competitive series has proved challenging. Being the youngest competitor, she anticipated the difficulties of racing against drivers in their 20s. "It’s been an invaluable learning experience," she reflects on the 2025 F1 Academy season thus far. "Every round has provided new insights—from adjusting to various track conditions to managing my mindset through both good and bad times." This season, she focused on absorbing as much knowledge as possible and collaborating with her team to enhance her driving skills. "I've definitely exceeded my expectations in terms of growth."

      To her, the positive experiences always outweigh the negatives—an approach that has helped her stay motivated even when results haven’t met her aspirations. "There have been frustrating moments, such as when qualifying didn't go our way or when I made minor errors," she recalls. It’s in those times that her maturity shines through. Learning from those mistakes is essential for personal development. "I strive to remain calm, evaluate what went wrong, and move on quickly," she explains. While motorsport isn't typically categorized as a team sport, it is one, and Ciconte values the support from her team, especially after tough weekends on the track. They help lift her spirits on difficult days, steering her away from discouragement and providing the necessary guidance for future successes. "The synergy with your engineers and the collaborative search for those extra tenths of a second—there’s a strong sense of teamwork in motorsport that is often overlooked," she emphasizes.

      Her MP Motorsport team feels like family, especially given that she's often away from home. This season alone, the F1 Academy grid has competed in locations like Shanghai, Saudi Arabia, Miami, Montréal, the Netherlands, and Singapore, with the final grand prix of the season set for this weekend in Las Vegas. It all began in March—eight months ago. "Being away so much can be hard for someone my age," Ciconte confides. "I miss my family and friends a lot." However, the lack of a safety net has fostered her independence, an essential trait for reaching her goal of entering F1. "Traveling, performing under pressure, and learning from numerous people around me have significantly shaped my growth, not just as a driver but also as an individual," she shares. "[F1 Academy] has transformed me in many ways."

      With only one race weekend remaining in her rookie season, Ciconte is focused. Although she says she’s approaching Las Vegas like any other race, there's an undeniable thrill tied to competing on the famous Strip. "I want to finish the season powerfully and carry everything I've learned into the next chapter," she says. In F1 Academy, each driver can only compete for two seasons, so she understands the significance of every weekend. It's disproportionately challenging