India’s first F1-backed racer Atiqa Mir on breaking barriers in motorsports: ‘People bully me for being a girl, but…’

At simply 10 years previous, Atiqa Mir is dashing previous stereotypes on world motorsports tracks. Residing in Dubai however carrying her Indian roots from Jammu and Kashmir with satisfaction, this little woman has huge goals of racing into Formulation 1 someday. Whereas motorsports has lengthy been seen as a person’s sport, Atiqa admits she has confronted her share of bullying on the monitor for being a woman. However she refuses to let it sluggish her down. Atiqa Mir is racing towards stereotypes on the earth of motorports.(Instagram) In early 2025, Atiqa turned the primary Indian to be backed straight by Formulation 1, following her spectacular feats at karting championships world wide. She earned a spot in Uncover Your Drive Program (DYD) by F1 Academy, a female-only racing collection by Formulation 1, which is offering her technical and monetary assist. What makes her particular is that she is just one of three drivers within the mini class (age 8-11) worldwide to be chosen for this program. A childhood love-turned-careerAtiqa says she grew up otherwise from different ladies. When different youngsters collected dolls, she was lining up miniature vehicles and race tracks. “I liked racing since a younger age, I used to gather vehicles, race tracks when different ladies used to gather dolls. I used to be impressed watching my father (Asif Nazir Mir) who’s a former Formulation Asia driver and have become India’s first Nationwide Karting Champion. This sparked my curiosity in racing,” she says in an electronic mail interview for Well being Photographs She Slays. At first, racing was play for her. However Atiqa’s velocity, pure intuition, and household’s assist quickly confirmed her that this was no bizarre passion. “I didn’t actually know this was going to end up in a profession, however I knew that I used to be actually proficient and quick. That, together with everybody’s assist finally introduced me to the place I’m now,” provides the prodigy who’s mentored by Narain Karthikeyan, India’s first Formulation One Driver. Atiqa Mir hopes to see extra Indian ladies in motorsports and different male-dominated fields.(Instagram) Breaking right into a male-dominated spaceMotorsport is male-dominated, however the little speedster has her personal mantra to take care of it. “Folks generally bully me on the monitor as a result of I’m a woman, however I’ve learnt how one can take care of it over time. I attempt to concentrate on myself and never others. That manner I consider my driving greater than considering if folks will bully me or not. It’s an entire waste of time eager about that!” She believes there’s a want for extra feminine position fashions in racing who can present all the ladies in India that it’s certainly doable. “We’re a minimum of anybody on the earth,” asserts Atiqa, who can be very pleased with her roots. “To be carrying the Indian flag across the globe is a superb privilege for me. I need to make everybody proud and hopefully be a task mannequin for upcoming Indian sportswomen,” says Atiqa. A message for younger girlsSharing an inspirational message for all ladies, particularly those that dream of doing one thing that folks normally assume solely boys can do, she provides: “Imagine in your self, discover a ardour, dream it, observe it, work onerous at it, by no means quit and don’t let anybody inform you that you would be able to’t do it.” When requested what it feels wish to be on the monitor, Atiqa lights up. “It feels nice racing at such excessive speeds on such quick race tracks. I’ve an ideal privilege to be doing this sport and driving towards one of the best drivers on the earth. We drive so shut to one another at very excessive speeds. The sensation can’t be described in phrases as it’s actually particular and the joys you get is wonderful.” Atiqa Mir has eyes on her goalsClearly, the game is about experiencing freedom, adrenaline, and pleasure all rolled into one for Atiqa. However she has her eyes set proper on her targets: Formulation 4 within the subsequent few years, and Formulation 1 inside a decade – one thing that has not been accomplished by a feminine in many years. Her idol? Reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen, alongside her father Asif. And the monitor she goals of racing on someday? Belgium’s legendary Spa-Francorchamps, with its high-speed corners and historic aura. Atiqa Mir’s journey proves that when ardour meets perseverance, and even whenever you dare to dream, age and gender grow to be irrelevant.