RB Team Principal, Laurent Mekies added: “Everyone at the team is hugely excited to welcome Rafaela to the VCARB family. Rafaela is an exceptional emerging Brazilian talent, and we’re pleased to share this global, and empowering, platform to compete, race, and grow together.
“F1 ACADEMY has been a great success this season, the exposure that it’s generated for women’s motorsport is revolutionary. I hope we can continue to inspire the next generation of female talent in motorsports, and we look forward to seeing Rafaela grow and flourish as a driver. The team would also like to thank Amna [Al Qubaisi] for her commitment across the season, we look forward to watching her progress and wish her the best of luck in the next phase of her career.”
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Red Bull Academy Programme Manager, Sarah Harrington said: “We’ve been impressed by Rafaela’s performance this season and are very pleased to welcome her to the team and work with her in F1 ACADEMY in 2025. Rafaela has great talent and potential and has already cemented herself as a race winner in Brazil. I’m looking forward to supporting her development and am excited to see what next season brings.”
Visa Brazil Marketing Vice President, Carla Mita said: “We are thrilled to support Rafaela as she joins the Visa Cash App RB Academy Programme for the 2025 F1 ACADEMY season, Rafaela’s talent and determination perfectly embody the spirit of our initiatives to empower women in all fields. Her journey and achievements are inspiring, and we are proud to be part of this exciting chapter in her career.”
The team’s current driver Amna Al Qubaisi is set to depart F1 ACADEMY at the conclusion of her maximum two-season stint, as per the series’ regulations.
