Aiva Anagnostiadis

Aiva Anagnostiadis is an Australian racing driver competing in F1 Academy for Hitech TGR with backing from TAG Heuer—a Melbourne teen who traded ballet shoes for racing boots and hasn’t looked back since.

EARLY YEARS

Born August 9, 2007, in Melbourne, Victoria, Aiva Alexis Anagnostiadis grew up in a household where motorsport wasn’t just a hobby—it was the family business. Her mother, Barbara, had been a competitive kart racer in her youth, finishing second in several championships, and her father, Adam, worked as a mechanic. When Barbara returned to karting after Aiva turned six, the die was cast. Aiva had her first try in a go-kart shortly after and was hooked immediately.

But racing wasn’t her only passion. As a little girl, she was torn between two worlds: dancing and go-karting. For a while, both seemed equally possible. Eventually, the roar of engines won out over the ballet barre, and the Melbourne native set her sights on a career in motorsport. She began competitive karting at age seven—some sources say eight—and never looked back.

OTHER INTERESTS

Before committing fully to racing, Aiva was a dedicated dancer, splitting her time between the studio and the track. It was a difficult choice, but ultimately, the speed and adrenaline of motorsport proved irresistible. Beyond the track today, she’s passionate about mentoring young girls in go-karting and actively works to show them that a career in racing isn’t just a boys’ club fantasy—it’s a legitimate path forward for anyone willing to put in the work.

EARLY SUCCESS

Anagnostiadis quickly made a name for herself in Australian karting circles, racking up podiums and proving she could compete with anyone. In 2021, she won the Australian Ladies Trophy at the Australian Karting Championship—a title that put her on the map nationally. The following year, she represented Team Australia in the Senior Karting category at the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games in France, a prestigious international stage that showcased her talent beyond Australia’s borders.

Her performances caught the attention of Alpine’s Rac(H)er Academy, a gender diversity initiative designed to discover and nurture female racing talent. In 2023, she was selected as one of just six karters for the program—a life-changing moment that required her and her family to relocate to the United Kingdom so she could pursue her racing dreams full-time. It was a bold move, but one that signaled just how serious she was about making it to the top.

By 2024, she had transitioned from karts to cars, competing in her first F4 Championship in India with Goa Aces JA Racing. She finished 10th in the standings with 47 points—not a championship run, but a solid rookie showing in a fiercely competitive field. The jump from karting to single-seaters is notoriously difficult, and she handled it with grit and determination, learning on the fly while racing against drivers with more car experience.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2021: Won the Australian Ladies Trophy at the Australian Karting Championship.
• 2022: Represented Team Australia in the Senior Karting category at the FIA Motorsport Games in France.
• 2023: Selected for the Alpine Rac(H)er Academy Programme; relocated to the UK with family to pursue racing full-time.
• 2024: Competed in the F4 Indian Championship with Goa Aces JA Racing, finishing 10th in the standings with 47 points.
• 2025: Joined F1 Academy with Hitech TGR, supported by TAG Heuer, becoming one of Australia’s first drivers in the series; named an ambassador for the Australian Grand Prix.

INSPIRATIONS

Her biggest inspiration? Her mum. Barbara’s racing background meant that for Aiva, seeing a woman behind the wheel wasn’t unusual—it was normal. “My love for motorsport came from my mum; she raced when she was younger and then got back into the sport when I was 6,” Anagnostiadis has said. That early exposure shaped her worldview: if her mum could race, why couldn’t she? It’s a mindset she now hopes to pass on to the next generation of girls watching from the sidelines, wondering if they belong in motorsport.

REPUTATION

In 2025, at just 17 years old, Anagnostiadis made her F1 Academy debut with Hitech TGR, becoming one of Australia’s first representatives in the all-female racing series. She joined the grid alongside fellow Australian Joanne Ciconte, making it a historic moment for women’s motorsport Down Under. TAG Heuer came on board as her sponsor, adding her to their stable of supported drivers and giving her the financial backing needed to compete at this level.

The season, however, was a learning curve. Her debut round in Shanghai saw her finish 13th and 14th. Jeddah wasn’t much better—14th and 17th. Miami showed progress, with improved pace and a few positions gained despite chaotic racing. “We’ve made baby steps,” she said after Miami. “Pace was actually a lot better than the last two rounds.” It was the kind of honest, no-excuses assessment that defines her approach: acknowledge the struggle, but keep pushing forward.

Midseason brought unexpected challenges. She missed the Singapore round due to injury, with Megan Bruce filling in as her replacement. Later, a fractured left foot sidelined her again for the Las Vegas finale, capping off a rookie year that tested her resilience. She finished 17th in the championship standings with just a handful of points-scoring finishes—not the fairytale debut she’d hoped for, but a crucial year of experience nonetheless.

Off the track, she’s been vocal about breaking down barriers for women in motorsport. In a TEDxModena talk titled “It’s Not a Man’s World Anymore,” she shared her journey and emphasized that aspiring to be Formula 1’s first female driver in decades isn’t just a dream—it’s a possibility. “We’re trying to break barriers and show girls that there is another pathway and there are opportunities out there,” she’s said. She’s also served as an ambassador for the Australian Grand Prix, a full-circle moment for a kid who was a grid girl at the same event back in 2018.

Still a high school student for much of her early F1 Academy season, she continued her education virtually while racing internationally—proof that she’s not just fast on the track, but disciplined and determined in every aspect of her life. Her story, along with that of fellow Australian Joanne Ciconte, has been featured in the Official F1 Museum, cementing their place in the history of women’s motorsport.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Looking beyond 2025, Anagnostiadis remains laser-focused on her ultimate goal: becoming a Formula 1 driver. It’s an audacious ambition, but she’s not the type to shy away from big dreams. With a full season of F1 Academy experience under her belt—injuries and all—she’s hungry to build on what she’s learned, find more consistent pace, and prove that her rookie struggles were just growing pains. She’s determined to show the next generation of girls that the top levels of motorsport aren’t off-limits, and she’s willing to put in the work to get there herself.

REFERENCES

Aiva Anagnostiadis – F1 ACADEMY™ Racing Series
Aiva Anagnostiadis – TLS Talent
Driver: Aiva Anagnostiadis – Driver Database
Aiva Anagnostiadis – Wikipedia
Aiva Anagnostiadis – Women in Automotive
HER STORY: Aiva Anagnostiadis
Her competitive mum and formidable World Champions: Aiva Anagnostiadis’ Racing Journey
Australia’s first F1 Academy driver announced – Motorsport Australia
Australian Aiva Anagnostiadis to join F1 Academy™ in 2025
Ricciardo. Piastri. Anagnostiadis? The Aussie teen on track to F1 glory
My Journey Through Motorsport – It’s Not a Man’s World Anymore | Aiva Anagnostiadis | TEDxModena
The drive that made Anagnostiadis’ breakthrough possible – Auto Action
‘We’ve made baby steps’ – Aiva Anagnostiadis vows to push on after progress in Miami
F1 Academy driver shares injury update as season final replacement confirmed
TAG HEUER X F1 ACADEMY™
Aiva Anagnostiadis to miss Round 6 in Singapore due to injury
16-year-old Aiva Anagnostiadis looking to make motorsport history
The teenager on track to become Australia’s first female F1 driver
Woman Spotlight Wednesday: Aiva Anagnostiadis
Joanne Ciconte is claiming her place among legends – The Female Athlete Project