Sophia Flöersch

Sophia Flöersch is a German racing driver blazing trails across multiple motorsport series—from Formula 3 to endurance racing—and making history as the first woman to score points in FIA Formula 3 while eyeing a future seat in Formula 1.

EARLY YEARS

Born December 1, 2000, in Grünwald, Germany, Sophia Flöersch got her start in motorsports at the age most kids are still figuring out how to tie their shoes. She began karting at four or five years old, treating it as a hobby rather than a career path. But by the time she hit eight, nine, ten years old, the wins started piling up—and so did the ambition. As she later explained, “I started karting when I was 4 years old. I was European Easykart Champion at 9 and P9 at the World Finals at 10. I always had a lot of fun, but it was just a hobby until I was 11 or 12. But when you start celebrating success and winning medals, you want more.”

That hunger pushed her from weekend fun to serious competition. She became the youngest—and first female—winner in multiple European karting championships, catching the eye of Red Bull during her karting career. From Grünwald to circuits across Europe, Flöersch was laying the groundwork for a racing career that would eventually crack open doors that had been shut to women for decades.

OTHER INTERESTS

Flöersch’s life outside the cockpit remains largely focused on motorsport advocacy. She serves as an ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, supporting programs that sponsor young girls in motorsport—a role that reflects her commitment to expanding opportunities for the next generation of female racers. Beyond that, details about hobbies, creative pursuits, or downtime activities remain under wraps. When you’re gunning for F1, there’s not much room left on the calendar.

EARLY SUCCESS

Flöersch’s early success reads like a highlight reel of firsts and youngests. In 2008, she won the SAKC Championship, becoming the youngest and first female to do so. She repeated the feat in 2009 with the ADAC German Championship and again in 2010 with the Easykart European Championship—cementing her reputation as a karting prodigy before she’d even hit her teenage years.

By 2015, she’d moved up to the Ginetta Junior Championship, where she became the youngest race winner in the series’ history with two victories and four additional podiums. The following year, she made history again as the first female to score points in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship, finishing 19th overall in 2016. In 2017, she earned her first single-seater podiums in ADAC F4 with two top-three finishes, proving she could mix it up with the boys—and often come out ahead.

But 2018 brought a harsh reality check. Competing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing, Flöersch suffered a horrific crash at the Macau Grand Prix, resulting in a spinal fracture. It was the kind of accident that ends careers. Instead, she recovered, came back in 2019 to race in Formula Regional European by Alpine (finishing seventh overall), and returned to Macau. Not for revenge—just to prove she could.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2008: Youngest and first female winner, SAKC Championship
• 2009: Youngest and first female winner, ADAC German Championship
• 2010: Youngest and first female winner, Easykart European Championship
• 2015: Youngest race winner in Ginetta Junior Championship history (two wins, four podiums)
• 2016: First female to score points in ADAC Formula 4 Championship
• 2017: First single-seater podiums in ADAC F4 (two podiums)
• 2020: First woman to compete in FIA Formula 3 since the series’ formation; finished P9 at 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP2 class with Richard Mille Racing (all-female crew)
• 2021: Quickest in FIA WEC Rookie Test at Bahrain, topping both sessions and leading Team WRT
• 2023: First woman to score points in FIA Formula 3, finishing P7 at Spa-Francorchamps with PHM Racing by Charouz (six points total, 23rd overall); scored team’s maiden F3 points; completed 23 overtakes in one race and 29 over the Spa weekend
• 2024: Alpine Academy Driver with Van Amersfoort Racing in FIA Formula 3
• 2025: Made American racing debut in Indy NXT by Firestone at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

INSPIRATIONS

No specific drivers, mentors, or personal heroes are documented in Flöersch’s public statements. Her motivations seem to come from within—fueled by karting success in childhood and a refusal to let barriers, crashes, or skeptics slow her down. If there’s a theme to her career, it’s this: she’s writing her own playbook.

REPUTATION

Flöersch has built a reputation as a history-maker and a relentless competitor. Media coverage consistently highlights her pioneering achievements—first woman to score FIA F3 points, first female in the series since its formation, all-female Le Mans crew—but it’s her on-track performance that backs up the headlines. In 2023, she outperformed her teammates at PHM Racing by Charouz and improved her pace every weekend, with one memorable performance at Spa netting 23 overtakes in a single race. After that weekend, she said, “Saturday was already a strong race with finishing P12 in only three racing laps. But then Sunday we did the right strategy calls and ended up in the points in a super difficult race with mixed conditions.”

Her racing CV spans karting, single-seaters, endurance prototypes, DTM, and now Indy NXT—making her one of the most versatile female drivers in modern motorsport. She’s gained recognition as a skilled overtaker and sharp strategist, particularly in mixed conditions. The fact that she returned from a spinal fracture to continue racing—and keep breaking records—has only added to her legend. Public perception is overwhelmingly positive, with fans and media alike celebrating her as a pioneer who’s expanding what’s possible for women in racing.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Flöersch has made no secret of her ultimate ambition: she wants to be the first woman to race in Formula 1. It’s a bold goal, but her career trajectory suggests she’s not in the habit of setting modest targets. In 2025, she’s taking on a new challenge with her debut in Indy NXT by Firestone, competing in the American open-wheel ladder system. She kicked off the season at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, finishing with 18 points and 26th in the standings after one start—a solid foundation as she continues to expand her racing portfolio and build the experience needed to crack motorsport’s highest levels. Whether F1 is in the cards remains to be seen, but if there’s one thing Flöersch has proven, it’s that she doesn’t back down from long odds.

References:

FIA Formula 3 Official Driver Page
Indy NXT Official Driver Page
Indy NXT News Article
Alpine Academy Page
Champions Speakers Agent Page
IAA Mobility Interview
FIA Formula 3 YouTube Video/Transcript
Motorsport Magazine Article