Atiqa leaves behind Mercedes F1 juniors for pole position

India’s 11-year-old racing prodigy Atiqa Mir gave another compelling example of her precocious talent by out-qualifying two Mercedes F1 junior drivers for pole position in the Champions of the Future Academy Program Round 3 in Viterbo.

Despite no testing on a rather technical Leopard Circuit, Atiqa, the first Indian to be backed by the Formula 1 Academy, set sizzling pace in qualifying of the karting series.  She beat established Mercedes F1 Junior drivers like Niccolo Perico of Italy and Devin Titz of Germany for pole position besides setting an event record, earning the plaudits from one and all in the paddock.

Atiqa’s special performance in qualifying came after she swept Round 2 of the COTFA series in Greece last month. Post the stellar pole position, Atiqa secured P2 and P3 in the Heats after engrossing battles.

In the final, Atiqa started P2 and passed Niccolo for the lead. However, due to an engine misfire, she couldn’t hold on to the lead and lost places finally before recovering to finish P6.

The results don’t reflect Atiqa’s sensational speed but she did make a mark with the audacious move for the lead on Lap 1 against Niccolo after outpacing him in qualifying.

On Day 2, Atiqa was hit by engine trouble and qualified 27th. The organisers were quick to change her engine but the damage was done by then.