At just 16-years-old, Australia’s Joanne Ciconte is making history as one of F1 Academy’s youngest talents. Heading into the fifth round of the season in Zandvoort, Ciconte sits P15 in the Championship. This result comes after accumulating four points across the first four rounds.
Ciconte has been lucky enough to be mentored by some big names who have given her tips that have proven to be crucial. After making the switch from the Australian racing scene into the International one, Ciconte holds some strong goals for herself.
In an exclusive interview with Pit Debrief, Ciconte let us into her world, uncovering these topics.
“Female” racer?
When it comes to females in motorsport, a term commonly used to refer to them is ‘female racers’. While this phrase doesn’t come with a second thought for many drivers, some have bitten back. Once a driver’s helmet is on, it is near impossible to tell whether they are male or female.
Ciconte sees herself quite simply as a driver. The added ‘female’ is not necessary, the 16-year-old going on to emphasise that motorsport is about performance, and not gender. Despite this, Ciconte is of course proud to be part of an all female grid. F1 Academy and Ciconte continue to pave the way for younger girls in the motorsport industry.
Overall, Ciconte will be glad to see the day that female is no longer added into the phrase, because in the end, results are the judging factor on a driver, not their gender.
“Honestly, I just see myself as a driver. Motorsport is about performance, not gender, and once you put the helmet on, it’s just you, the car, and the stopwatch. I’m proud to be part of an all-female grid because it’s inspiring for younger girls, but I’d love to see the day where we don’t have to put “female” in front. We’re all simply judged on pace, racecraft, and results.”
Being the youngest driver on the F1 Academy grid has its challenges
Ciconte joined the F1 Academy grid as the youngest driver on the grid. While this is an impressive statistic for her resume, it comes with its challenges. The 2025 F1 Academy grid is made of a stellar lineup of impressive young talent. This is a challenge in itself, mores when you consider the little experience Ciconte brings.
On top of this, each round brings the challenge of learning and adapting to new tracks, some of which others have previously tackled. With little single seater experience as it is, learning a new car that is the F1 Academy machinery brought a challenge in itself.
When the results weren’t instantly as she had hoped, a mental challenge appeared. This led to her fighting to remain confident, even though the confidence had taken a hit. She took this opportunity to focus on her data analysis, fitness, and understanding tyre management.
“It’s been a huge learning curve. You’re not only competing against some of the best young drivers in the world, but also adapting to new tracks, new cars, and the sheer intensity of an international calendar. Mentally, I had to work on staying confident even when results weren’t immediate. Technically, I focused on data analysis, fitness, and really understanding tyre management. Every race weekend is another learning step.”
Incredible mentors and support from management
After showcasing her talent in karts, Ciconte was selected for the 2023 instalment of the FIA Girls On Track Rising Stars program. This saw her and seven other drivers, including teammate Alba Larsen, competing in F4 machinery, for a spot in the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy.
This opportunity saw her working alongside Ferrari and Prema personnel, gaining valuable insight and experience. As well as this, Ciconte has had mentoring from Ferrari GT Driver, Marci Cioci, and ex-Formula 1 driver, Giancarlo Fisichella.
Through mentors such as these, she has developed the ability to stay calm under pressure, as well as being super meticulous in her preparation. Fisichella has drilled into Ciconte, the concept that races tend to be won mentally, before they are won on track.
Ciconte is part of the Prorating Motorsport academy, which was created with the knowledge and experience of Fisichella and Cioci. The team at Proracing Motorsport had guided Ciconte to a strict routine of consistency and discipline, guiding how she goes into each session.
“Yes, I’ve been incredibly lucky to receive guidance from FIA Girls on Track and to learn from mentors like Giancarlo Fisichella and Marco Cioci. Giancarlo [Fisichella] taught me the importance of staying calm under pressure that races are often won in the mind before they’re won on track. Marco [Cioci] pushed me to be meticulous in preparation, because every detail matters in racing. At Proracing Motorsport, the culture is about consistency and discipline, and those lessons have shaped how I approach every session.”
Racing in Australia compared to internationally
Ciconte made the move into the international racing scene in 2024, taking place in a few rounds of Indian F4. Following this, she moved up to F1 Academy for the 2025 season. The Australian noted the differences between the Australian racing scene in comparison to the international one.
While racing in Australia has its difficulties, the European motorsport scene is a whole other level. In Europe, motorsport is more than just a passion—the sport being a way of life for many. Europe brings another level of professionalism and competitiveness, creating greater intensity in every session.
The Australian racing spirit is a category of its own at the end of the day. The drivers fight to the very end, battling for every bit of space on the track. The combination of this, with the experience she is gaining in Europe, Ciconte is getting the most out of both.
“Australian racing is tough, but the scale and depth of competition internationally is another level, especially in Europe where motorsport is almost a way of life. The level of professionalism, the number of competitive drivers on the grid, and the intensity of every session impressed me the most this year. That said, the Aussie racing spirit is unbeatable we’re gritty, adaptable, and we fight for every inch. Combining that with the experience I’m gaining overseas is the best of both worlds.”
Goals for the future and metrics for success
While many goals in motorsport are measured by how many trophies you have, or which level of the sport a driver reaches, this is not entirely the case for Joanne Ciconte. While trophies and success through results is still something Ciconte would like to achieve, she aims to inspire the next generation.
With the concept of women in motorsport still touchy for some, young girls need inspirational figures to look up to. This is what Ciconte strives for. She aims to leave her mark on motorsport, maximising every opportunity to climb the single seater ladder. With the potential to compete in one more season of F1 Academy, the next step is F4, or potentially GB3 or F3, before moving on to F2, and ultimately, F1.
“In the next few years, I’d like to move up the single-seater ladder — Formula 3, then Formula 2, and ultimately Formula 1. Beyond categories, my main goal is to be in a position where I can fight for wins and championships at the highest level possible. For me, success isn’t just trophies it’s knowing I’ve maximised every opportunity, inspired the next generation, and left my mark on the sport.”
