INTERVIEW: F1 Academy’s Emma Felbermayr on Audi’s impact and Le Mans ambitions

"That's his big goal,” said F1 Academy’s Emma Felbermayr. “After what my father did together with my grandfather, he wants to do it with this generation as well."

For Felbermayr, her father's wish seems far away. After five years in karting she has only just started her true motorsport journey, joining Rodin Motorsport for the 2025 season.

"At this moment, I don't see myself driving an LMP2 car," she said. "I'm just happy with Formula 4, seeing the progress there. But I definitely want to race [at Le Mans] someday. Especially when I know I can make my dad happy, then it would be even better. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is such an historic race. I think most racing drivers would want to take part, and I see myself there in some years."

Felbermayr threw herself into single-seaters last year, cutting her teeth in a range of series — Eurocup-4 Spanish Winter Championship; F4 Spanish Championship; F4 British Championship (albeit taking part in just three races), and most notably, F1 Academy.

The 2025 Academy campaign was a rollercoaster, with its nadir and zenith in one event in Canada, as disqualification in race one was remarkably followed by victory in race two, en route to 10^th position in the standings.

With a solid season's worth of experience under her belt, Felbermayr has started this campaign strongly in, sadly, what has proven to be the only round of the season so far in China.

Nevertheless, Felbermayr has set a benchmark for herself after finishing third in race one in Shanghai, following up with victory in race two to take an early lead in the Championship.

"Last year we didn't really show the real potential we had," she said. "We had some issues with the team, with the car, but that potential has always been there, I would say, pace-wise.

"Also, it was my first single-seater season last year, so I didn't have a lot of preparation, but I knew that the progress would be big. The improvements over the year showed that we can drive for the Championship this year."

Despite the exit of leading drivers Doriane Pin, Maya Weug and Chloe Chambers — the top three in the standings last year who had all completed their allowed two years in F1 Academy — Felbermayr is acutely aware that the competition remains strong this season, with the likes of Alisha Palmowski, Nina Gademan and Ella Lloyd.

"I would say the field in general this year is really tight," said Felbermayr. "From first to last place, there's not much of a gap, as we saw in Shanghai. The field is really competitive, and in qualifying you really have to put a lot together to be at the front."

There is however a significant difference for Felbermayr this season that marks her out as a serious title threat: the support of major manufacturer Audi.

Although Felbermayr raced under the Sauber banner last year, the Sauber Academy ceased to exist at the end of 2024, meaning she lacked the wide-ranging support of a young drivers' programme.

But Audi's arrival into Formula 1 has resulted in the introduction of a Driver Development Programme, providing support and resources previously unavailable to Felbermayr, but which she is now fully integrated into, and has opened her eyes.

"The support I now get, not only on the track but also off it, is so big that we just could prepare ourselves as best as possible for the start of the season," said Felbermayr, who then gave credit to a former racer who has recently taken on the role of racing director at Audi, in support of Team Principal Mattia Binotto.

"Having Allan McNish on my side, also having a driver coach during the weekend in Shanghai, and physio help with Med-Ex, helped me prepare myself physically and mentally, to be as best prepared as possible.

"They [Audi personnel] also join me on sim sessions, so we maximise our potential in terms of preparation. Just having their support on the side, also off track, is really helpful.

"I don't think that every team, or every driver, has the support from their teams, so I'm super grateful that I have it for the races and more. It has meant that this season I've been much more prepared. Last year, I had two races before [going into F1 Academy]. This time, I have a whole season of experience.

"Also, last year I did some schooling besides. I was doing two things at a time, which was a bit stressful at that moment. I'm now in a better mindset, better prepared."

This season, alongside F1 Academy, Felbermayr is also stepping up into the highly competitive Italian F4 Championship, which is crucial to continue not only her racing education, but to maintain her competitiveness, given the women-only series takes place over just six weekends this year.

With the first round at the Misano World Circuit quickly approaching, Felbermayr said: "It was always important to get more track time, besides the F1 Academy, since we don't get too much. I also did some winter preparation in the UAE, to get racing and more track time. I'm trying to do as much as possible, alongside the sim training.

"The Italian F4 is known as the most competitive and hardest Championship in Formula 4. Last year, I did the Spanish F4, and we were thinking about doing it again this year, but they're using different tyres — Hankook, and I struggled a lot last year switching from tyre to tyre. That's why we decided to go with the Italian F4 since they use Pirelli, the same as in F1 Academy."

Winning the F1 Academy would naturally open up doors for Felbermayr, who already has her sights set on a possible seat next year in Formula Regional, GB3, or Eurocup-3.

And then, who knows? Depending on where her motorsport path may lead, we may see her at Le Mans in 2031, alongside her father and brother, and potentially with a certain Allan McNish as her guide and mentor at the event.

McNish's longstanding history with Audi saw him win Le Mans three times, alongside numerous other titles, during an illustrious career.

Felbermayr knows she could not have anyone better right now fighting her corner. "Two years ago, Allan contacted me on Instagram, and without that message, I wouldn't be here," she said. "He tried to help me as much as possible last year, and then he also told me that I have a place for this season with Audi. He always tries to help.

"And he has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and I think he knows about what my father wants to do, so we will see."

Images courtesy of Getty Images.