Sixteen-year-old Milwaukee native Ava Dobson will make her F1 Academy debut on home soil at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. Backed by Morgan Stanley—the first financial services partner of the all-female series—Dobson will line up on the grid at the Miami International Autodrome in a bespoke Morgan Stanley-branded livery and race suit. She will race as the Wild Card entry in the #90 car operated by Hitech TGR.
Dobson’s journey to F1 Academy
After earning a Parella Motorsports Holdings Powering Diversity Scholarship, Ava Dobson took her first steps into the world of open-wheel racing. That same year, she made her debut with Jay Howard Driver Development (JHDD) in the Formula 4 United States Championship. Unfortunately, her rookie season proved to be a challenging one, as she finished 31st in the standings without scoring any points.
Nevertheless, despite this tough introduction to open-wheel racing, Dobson demonstrated resilience and determination. Importantly, she began to show her potential through selective appearances in other junior categories. In addition to F4, she entered three rounds each of the USF Juniors and USF2000 Championships. As a result, she placed 16th and 32nd in the final standings, scoring 28 and 15 points, respectively. Her ability to adapt quickly across multiple disciplines stood out—ultimately laying a solid foundation for her continued progression.
Building on these early experiences, Dobson returned to USF Juniors in 2024 with JHDD. Over the course of just three races, she added another 10 points to her growing résumé. Shortly thereafter, she broadened her horizons by crossing the Atlantic to compete in the GB4 Championship in the UK. Representing Velocity Racing Development, she took part in two rounds and performed admirably. Impressively, she scored points in all six races she contested—ultimately concluding the season 17th in the standings with 40 points.
Consequently, her strong European performances did not go unnoticed. As a result, she secured a full-time seat in the 2025 GB4 Championship with Arden Motorsport. So far this season, she has continued to develop her skills and currently sits 18th in the championship with 34 points.
Rising star Dobson set for home race debut
Now, before turning her attention back to the British racing scene for Round 4, Dobson is preparing for a major milestone in her young career. In a significant next step, she will make her F1 Academy debut as a Wild Card entry at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix—racing on home soil in the #90 Morgan Stanley-liveried car, operated by Hitech TGR.
Morgan Stanley becomes F1 Academy’s first financial services partner
Dobson’s upcoming appearance in Miami is made possible through a landmark partnership between F1 Academy and Morgan Stanley, marking the firm’s first venture into motorsport sponsorship. As the inaugural financial services partner of the series, Morgan Stanley will not only support Dobson’s campaign in Miami but also play a wider role in promoting female talent and inclusivity in motorsport.
Commenting on the partnership, Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy, stated:
“We are very proud to have Morgan Stanley on board as the inaugural financial services partner of F1 Academy, in the firm’s first foray into motorsport sponsorship. It is fantastic to see Morgan Stanley, a brand that has driven excellence and innovation for 90 years, investing in women’s sport and championing female talent in motorsport.”
Looking beyond Miami, Morgan Stanley will continue to activate its commitment to gender equity in sport through a variety of initiatives at key F1 Academy events. These will include curated hospitality experiences for clients in the F1 Academy Paddock Club, exclusive behind-the-scenes access, and collaborative events with The Female Quotient—all designed to elevate visibility, engagement, and support for women in motorsport.
