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9-Year-Old Arshi Gupta Becomes Youngest Indian Selected for F1 Academy’s ‘Discover Your Drive’ Program
Nine-year-old Arshi Gupta from Faridabad has become the youngest racer selected for the F1 Academy's 'Discover Your Drive' program. India's first female national karting champion, Arshi will now compete internationally in the UK and represent India in motorsports.
Arshi Gupta, a nine-year-old girl from Faridabad, has created history in the field of motorsports in India. She is the youngest in the world to have secured a place in the prestigious 'Discover Your Drive' program of the Formula 1 Academy. The program is for young female racers across the globe. Arshi is the only girl from India who holds a license to participate in the program.
Arshi is currently a student at the Delhi Public School in Faridabad. Her love for speed started early in life. Her father, Anchit Gupta, is currently employed in the renewable energy business. According to him, the family has observed a special affinity for speed in the child since she was three or four years old. Arshi's mother, Dr. Deepti Gupta, is a doctor, and the entire family is committed to making Arshi's dreams come true.
After debuting at a karting track in Gurugram in 2023, Arshi became one of the fastest drivers in just five months. Under the guidance of coach Rohit Khanna, Arshi began professional training with the Leapfrog Racing Team.
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Due to limited motorsports facilities in India, Arshi had to undergo five months of training in the UAE between October 2024 and February 2025, followed by ten weeks of training in the UK.
Selected for the Rajasthan team in the All India Civil Services Table Tennis Championship in 2026.
In January 2025, she achieved her first podium finish in the IAME Series. In November 2025, Arshi returned to India and made history by winning the National Karting Championship. She is Asia's only female national karting champion.
An A-plus student, Arshi often juggles racing and studying in the car. But her parents' only complaint is when she's in India and can't go to the track. This reflects her passion.
As part of the F1 Academy program, Arshi will participate in four rounds of the British Champions of the Future Academy program, where she will compete against the world's top junior drivers. This platform could prove to be the first step towards taking her closer to her Formula One dream.
