ALBA LARSEN Goes From Go-Kart Rookie to F1 Academy Star in Just Four Years

September 8, 2025

by Spencer Whaley // from www.forbes.com

GRRL! SUMMARY:

ALBA LARSEN’s journey from casual go-karting in 2020 to F1 Academy competition is the kind of rapid-fire success story that proves what’s possible when talent meets opportunity. The 16-year-old Danish driver didn’t just stumble into racing excellence – she earned the Zealand Championship karting title and dominated the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars program, literally becoming “the fastest in the world under 18” according to her manager. Currently sitting seventh in F1 Academy standings, she’s already attracting Netflix cameras and major sponsor attention from Tommy Hilfiger and Ferrari’s Driver Academy.
What sets LARSEN apart isn’t just her speed – it’s her vision beyond the track. While still competing as a rookie, she’s launched her own Girls International Racing Lab (G.I.R.L.) program to clear barriers for the next generation of female drivers. Her manager notes it’s “inspiring to see an athlete who is still competing thinking about the next generation” rather than waiting decades to give back. This forward-thinking approach, combined with strategic partnerships that prioritize female leadership in hospitality and business, shows she understands the bigger picture of changing motorsports culture.
The support ecosystem around LARSEN demonstrates what comprehensive backing looks like for women in racing. Ferrari’s Driver Academy provides the technical development pipeline, Tommy Hilfiger supplies the bold visual identity, and Forbes Travel Guide curates stays at female-led luxury hotels during the grueling race calendar. Her manager specifically chose hotels with female general managers, noting that “just like motorsports, where it’s less than 2% of race car drivers that are female, I think it’s less than 10% of general managers that are female.” This intentional alliance-building across industries creates a network that extends far beyond the paddock.