Meet Arshi Gupta: 9-year-old Indian Racer making F1 history

At an age when most children are busy with cartoons, toys and playground games, Arshi Gupta is chasing something much faster — a dream of racing among the world's best drivers. The nine-year-old from Faridabad, Haryana, has made history by becoming the youngest driver ever selected for the F1 Academy's Discover Your Drive (DYD) programme, opening an exciting new chapter in her racing journey.
But Arshi's story is not just about speed. It is about a little girl's big dreams, her determination to overcome challenges and a family that believed in her talent even when the road ahead was far from easy.
From Toy Cars to Racing Tracks
Arshi's love for speed began when she was just three or four years old. Her father, Anchit Gupta, a Formula One fan, noticed that she had a natural liking for fast-moving toy cars and tricycles, along with surprisingly good control.Wanting to explore her interest, he began searching for a place where his young daughter could legally drive. His search took the family to a karting track in Gurugram.

What began as a fun activity soon turned into something much bigger. Arshi started visiting the track every week and quickly became one of its fastest drivers within five months.
By the age of seven years, five months and 18 days, she had earned an Indian racing licence, becoming the youngest person to achieve the milestone and securing a place in the India Book of Records.Her journey into professional motorsport had begun.
A Young Racer Takes on the World
In late 2023, Arshi got her first taste of professional racing cars during a testing programme in Bengaluru. Her performance and enthusiasm encouraged her family to explore opportunities beyond India.
However, there was one major hurdle: India lacked the strong grassroots motorsport system available in countries such as the United Kingdom(UK) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
With limited opportunities to train and compete at home, Arshi and her family looked overseas. Between October 2024 and February 2025, she raced in the UAE's IAME Series and Rotax Max Challenge, gaining valuable experience against international competitors.She secured her first podium finish in January 2025 and began consistently finishing among the top ten.Her success continued after she returned to India. Arshi won the Micro Max category at the National Karting Championship in 2025, becoming the youngest champion across boys and girls and Asia's only female national karting champion, according to the information provided about her achievements.She also represented India at the Asia-Pacific Motorsport Games in Sri Lanka, taking her racing experience to another international platform.
The F1 Academy Breakthrough
Arshi's growing list of achievements earned her an opportunity that few young racers can even dream of. In January 2026, her racing profile was submitted to the F1 Academy selection panel.The result was a major breakthrough: she was selected for the Discover Your Drive programme, becoming its youngest driver ever.F1 Academy's Discover Your Drive initiative aims to encourage more girls and young women to enter motorsport and help talented drivers progress in the sport.

Arshi is among just four drivers selected for her age group. Through the programme, she will compete in the British Champions of the Future Academy programme, which includes four rounds in the United Kingdom.The challenge will give her the chance to race against some of the strongest young drivers and gain valuable experience on international circuits.
For Arshi, the achievement is also an opportunity to represent India on a global stage."It's a huge honour to be chosen for F1 Academy's Discover Your Drive Program. Being the only Indian driver in the group, I'm proud to represent my country and eager to compete against such talented racers in the UK this year," she said.
Homework, Long Journeys and Early-Morning Flights
Behind the excitement of racing lies a demanding routine that would challenge even many adults.Arshi's weekends often involve races, long road journeys, early-morning flights and meals eaten while travelling. Sometimes, she has to squeeze in her studies between practice sessions and competitions.
Yet, according to her father, she has managed to balance school and racing remarkably well. An A-plus student at Delhi Public School, Faridabad, Arshi studies during flights and at racing tracks, making the most of every available moment.Her school has also adjusted her examination schedule to accommodate her racing commitments.
Her parents, Anchit Gupta, who works in renewable energy investments, and Deepti Gupta, a doctor, have played an important role in supporting her ambitions. Her younger sister is also part of the family that cheers her on.

Interestingly, her biggest disappointment comes not from losing a race but from missing one.According to her father, Arshi often asks why she cannot go to the track when she is in India and there are no races planned.That enthusiasm says a great deal about what racing means to her.
A Big Dream That Is Just Getting Started
Arshi's journey also highlights the difficulties faced by young sporting talent in India, particularly in motorsport, where professional training, suitable tracks and regular competition opportunities can be difficult to access.Her family had to look beyond the country to find the training and exposure she needed. Their experience shows how talent alone may not be enough without the right facilities, guidance and support.
Now, with the backing of F1 Academy's Discover Your Drive programme, Arshi has an opportunity to take another step towards her dream.She is still only nine, and the road to the highest levels of motorsport remains long. But her achievements have already set her apart as a young driver to watch.From racing toy cars at home to competing on international circuits, Arshi Gupta has shown that big dreams can begin at a very young age.

For now, she is focused on learning, improving and racing faster. And while a future in Formula One is still a distant ambition, one thing is clear: this young Indian racer has no intention of slowing down.

(Assistant Editor)