Victoria Blokhina is a 17-year-old racing driver whose career in motorsport is developing rapidly. She has come a long way from karting to professional championships. In 2020, Victoria became a participant in the FIA “Girls on Track — Rising Stars” program and studied at the Ferrari Driver Academy, where she reached the finals in 2021. Since then, she has competed in various series, including Formula 4 UAE and Italian Formula 4. In 2024, she signed a contract with the Spanish team Drivex and made her debut in Eurocup-3.
We talked with Victoria about her exciting journey in motorsport, how she copes with challenges, and what inspires her. In addition, Victoria shared her plans for the future and offered advice to young racers.
Daniel Ballarin
Motorsport Photographer
Jastina Golopolosova
Journalist
Victoria, hello! We are following your success in motorsport. Could you share how you became interested in it and what inspired you?
Hello! Actually, I knew almost nothing about motorsport, even though my dad was a racer, but he rode motorcycles. I knew what racing was, but I had no idea what car racing was. Then one day, he took me to karting and said, “Let’s try it.” I liked it, and I immediately realized that I wanted to do this. That’s how I got into motorsport.
Cool! Have you tried riding motorcycles?
No, I’m afraid of them, and besides, my dad says I shouldn’t.
You’ve come a long way from karting to the Formula 4 Championship in the UAE, then the Italian Formula 4, and now you’re competing in the Eurocup-3. What are the main differences between this series and previous championships?
Formula cars and karts are absolutely different. Karting is just preparation, both mentally and physically, for more serious cars. It forms the foundation for all formulas: how to overtake, how to drive, brake – karting teaches you all of this. Formula 4 is already a pretty serious car. Of course, it’s not as advanced in aerodynamics, but it still introduces you to the concept. It’s a great start for beginners. But the Eurocup car is much more similar to Formula 3. It’s quite complex, with much more aerodynamics. This is a big step forward. You get used to the fact that the car can do much more than the previous series, like the force on the steering wheel, which is twice as much. For beginners, it’s a pretty challenging machine.
And how has your approach to training and preparation changed as you moved between different levels and series?
When I was doing karting, I was more involved in general development. There, my workouts were simple, just to keep fit. But when I moved to a higher class – Formula 4 – we started taking training more seriously. I have my own coach in Russia who creates a special program for me. We began running and exercising seriously. In Formula 4, I worked without weights. But when I transitioned to Formula 3, I realized I needed to build more muscle, especially in my arms. So I started working with dumbbells and lifting weights. The training load has doubled compared to before.
How are you coping with adapting to new teams, tracks, and cars?
Over time, you just start to get used to it. And, let’s say, if I haven’t been on a track before or haven’t learned it on the simulator, I can learn it in a couple of laps because of the serious preparation we do before races. You watch videos, walk the track, and inspect it. Your eye starts to recognize how to approach each turn. As for new teams, it’s sometimes challenging. I had a lot of different teams in Formula 4, and each had a different approach, but they all treated the drivers very well.
What was the most useful experience gained in karting?
Probably learning to fight on the track. Formula racing is different; it’s harder to overtake due to dirty air and aerodynamics. But karting teaches you to be aggressive with your rivals. It provides the general concept of motorsport, which is essential.
What changes have occurred in your driving style since your debut in the karting before participating in Eurocup-3?
Sometimes it was very difficult to adjust. It took me quite a while to adapt after karting because the braking is different. You need to press the brake pedal harder, and apply the gas differently, not smoothly, like in karting, but more abruptly. The steering in formula cars is also different, it requires much more input than in karting. In Eurocup-3, the changes compared to Formula 4 weren’t as drastic. The gas control remained the same as in Formula 4, but the brake requires less pressure. You brake harder, but hold the pedal for a shorter duration. Sometimes I still struggle to adjust to the shorter braking time. Working with the gas is also very important in this car.
In 2020, you participated in the FIA “Girls on Track — Rising Stars” program and studied at the Ferrari Driver Academy, where you reached the finals in 2021. Tell us about this experience. What was the selection process like, and how was the training?
I was very excited when I learned I had been invited to the selection and given such a great opportunity to compete with other girls and showcase my skills. I went straight to France for the selection at Paul Ricard. First, there was a karting championship. Out of 15 girls [I don’t remember exactly how many there were], they chose 5 or 6 who would advance to formula training. It was a valuable experience because you could compare yourself with other competitors, see how they try and strive to enter this serious sport, and realize that you are among the best girls there. I’m proud of that. The karting selection was tough; the girls were strong competitors. It wasn’t easy in the formula either, as there were more experienced competitors who had driven it much more than I had. But still, I made it into the top four. Then there was the selection for the Ferrari Driver Academy, which was an incredible experience. I got to be inside the Ferrari facilities, watching people work on Formula 1 settings and on computers. We were given excellent training at 321 Performance, one of the best preparation teams for physical races. They also gave me interview tips on how to be more relaxed, which helped a lot. I also gained valuable driving experience on the Fiorano circuit on the F4 Iron Dames. We had two cars and shared one with another girl. It was a bit challenging because the other girl was much smaller than me, so I had to drive in a car that felt like a child’s, with my legs almost on the steering wheel. But that didn’t stop me from keeping up a good pace.
How does the experience gained at the Ferrari Driver Academy help you now?
They didn’t teach us much about driving; they tested our skills, how we improved, and how we behaved in various situations. We did simulations of qualifying and races. The most valuable lesson for me was learning to communicate with people better. Before that, I was very shy and quiet; some girls even called me the second Kimi Raikkonen. This experience helped me open up more in the racing environment.
How has the training of women in motorsport changed in recent years?
In my opinion, it has improved because more attention is being given to this. The best example, I think, was the W Series, based on Formula 3. They tested not only how well you could drive but also your physical fitness. Formula 4 is just the beginning for all racers, typically for teenagers aged 13 to 15. Formula 3 is for more experienced drivers. I really liked that the W Series gave women the opportunity to take another step toward a more serious level. Now we have the F1 Academy, which is based on Formula 4. Racers can showcase their skills at the initial stage and then move on to higher levels. They are competing in lighter cars, but this is also good because there are more racers and more attention on women. The best part is that winning gives you a chance to move up to a more serious formula. If you perform well, you have the opportunity to progress. Additionally, they race alongside Formula 1, receive media attention, and Netflix will be filming a series about the F1 Academy. I think this is a great opportunity to draw attention to women’s motorsport.
Interesting, thanks for sharing. Let’s go back to Eurocup-3. At the recent Aragon race, you achieved your best personal result, finishing 16th after having won back 12 positions! What factors, in your opinion, contributed to this?
I’ve been training a lot. But this car was almost entirely new to me, as I only started driving it this winter. Six months have passed, and now I’m racing here. My coach, Michael Belov, has been a great help. He’s currently competing in the FRECA Championship. He assists me with car setups and advises me on how to handle various situations. It also helps a lot that the team is always improving and working hard. Seeing their effort motivates me to work on myself as well. We work together as one unit.
You also had a great race in the rain at Spa at the beginning of the season. How do you prepare for racing in such difficult weather conditions?
I treat it as something necessary because when you’re given such a situation and such a track, you have to adapt quickly. Since I’ve had a lot of tests in the rain with an F4 car, I already have an intuitive understanding of what to do. When the weather conditions are so challenging, you just rely on your intuition and focus all your attention on seeing where you can improve, where you are faster, and where you are slower. It’s much easier to do this during the race because you can see the rivals in front of you and observe how they handle certain situations – where they are faster or slower, which helps a lot. It’s also easier for me because you use less physical strength in the rain. Concentration, of course, is much higher, but what girls often lack is physical strength, and in the rain, it’s needed less.
How do you organize your time between training, competition, and rest? What do you like to do outside of racing?
I love spending time with my family and playing computer games. My life revolves around racing, games, and training. But I also make sure not to forget about school.
What role did the support of your family play in your success?
A very big role. My mom worries about me a lot, like any mom would, I think. But she supports me, tries to draw attention to me, and seeks out people to help. My dad also plays a huge role. He’s sponsoring me now, and he also supports and encourages me a great deal. However, my parents don’t go to the races with me now. I asked to fly alone because it helps me concentrate more on racing and not think about anything else.
Are you watching Formula 1? Who are you rooting for?
Yes, I do watch it. Sometimes I can only catch bits of it, but I try to keep up with it as much as possible. I am very impressed with the McLaren team. There are such young drivers there. I really enjoy watching them develop and secure podiums this season. I also love watching Formula 2 and Formula 3.
Have you managed to visit a Grand Prix and meet the drivers in person?
Not much, to be honest. I went to the Grand Prix in Sochi once in 2020. I was just watching the races and I managed to get into the lounge area. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into the paddock. But I got to see more during the Formula 4 Cup, which took place at the Yas Marina Circuit along with Formula 1. We had different paddocks, but when we pulled into the Formula 1 paddock, we were standing right in front of the Ferrari team. I saw the Ferrari in the rearview mirrors and thought, “How cool!”
You have already raced on many tracks where the Formula 1 Grand Prix has taken place. Do you have a favorite track and one you dislike, and why?
I really like Yas Marina. It is a very good track, very technically challenging, and also beautiful. Then there’s Spa, a very technical, difficult, but at the same time interesting and long track that you really want to drive on. Portimão is also very interesting; there are elevation changes, and sometimes you feel like your car lifts off the ground when you go downhill—it’s just like a roller coaster. The tracks I don’t really like are the ones where you don’t use much aerodynamics. But with this car, I really like to feel the downforce; I like to feel the aerodynamics. In Formula 4, I enjoyed technical and slow tracks because I liked throwing the car into turns.
Cool! Let’s move on to another sports topic. Are you currently watching the Olympic Games in Paris?
Unfortunately, not that much. But I had to work out in the gym for three days, and it was there that I could sometimes watch the Olympic Games on TV.
The other day, Charles Leclerc said it would be great if motorsport were represented at the Olympics. Do you think it’s possible?
Honestly, I think it’s unlikely. You would need to create a separate event for this, a separate classification. In my opinion, it’s almost impossible.
What advice could you give to young female racers who are striving to go from karting to professional championships?
It’s a pretty difficult path, especially if you’re a girl. You have to work three times harder than the boys because we have different bodies. That means we need to concentrate on being on a level with the guys because now we practically don’t have any separate championships. You should always compete with them. Even if we had a separate championship, we would still be compared to the boys. It has always been and will remain that way. So, you just need to stay focused, pay no attention to anything except your results, and pursue what you want.
What are your plans for the future in motorsport? Do you have any plans after Eurocup-3?
Yes, I hope – very much hope – that I will be accepted into the F1 Academy, that I will be able to compete with all the girls, and show myself well in this championship. So I just hope they will give me a place there and I will be able to become part of this huge family.
Thank you, Victoria! I think you will succeed. We wish you good luck and will continue to follow your progress!
Thanks!
Jastina Golopolosova
