Natalia Granada’s first F1 Academy season has brought a major step forward in her racing career, but her path to single-seaters began with family Formula 1 evenings and a question about Fernando Alonso. The 18-year-old Spaniard and her twin brother, Marc, grew up watching races with their parents before discovering that go-karting was Alonso’s route into the sport. Now racing full-time in the all-women’s series, Granada is learning to manage competition, education and life away from the track. With support from the Iron Dames, she is also preparing for the next stage of her career.
Natalia Granada’s racing journey began with her family’s love for F1
Granada’s interest in racing grew from a family hobby into a serious pursuit. Her parents had followed Formula 1 for years, and their enthusiasm gave the twins an early connection to the sport. The turning point came when Marc asked their father how Alonso had reached the top level of racing.“My parents were both F1 fans since forever,” Granada, 18, tells PEOPLE. “And I remember this moment, when my brother one day asked my dad, ‘How did Fernando Alonso, a very known Spanish F1 driver, start? How did he get to Formula 1?’ And so we started investigating.”The answer led them to go-karting. With a track only six minutes from their home in La Garriga, Spain, Granada had a practical way to test her interest rather than simply watch the sport from the sidelines.“From there, we just figured out the closest track,” Granada laughs. “I went there and started driving, and from there just one thing led to the next, and here we are.”That early start has now brought her to F1 Academy, where she is one of 15 full-time drivers. The series gives young women a platform to move from karting into single-seater racing, an important step for those hoping to progress through the motorsport ladder.Granada has described her debut campaign as a major learning opportunity, both on and off the circuit. “It’s been amazing,” Granada says. “It’s just been such a big opportunity to make the jump from go-karts to single-seaters. It’s such a big step in my career, such a big opportunity in every aspect racing-wise, visibility-wise, for my future. I just think it’s been one of the best platforms so far for me to keep developing in my racing and my career.”
Iron Dames support and life away from racing are shaping her progress
The demands of a racing season extend beyond race weekends. Granada must balance her education with training, travel and the pressure of competing against drivers who share the same ambition to reach the highest levels of motorsport.“Online school has helped me a lot to balance everything around my tight schedule,” Granada says.She also makes room for activities that have little to do with lap times. Cooking is one of her favourite ways to unwind, with paella and sushi among her preferred dishes. Returning home to spend time with family and friends gives her a break from the demands of racing.That balance is especially important as she gains experience in single-seaters. Granada finished fourth at the Zandvoort round in the Netherlands, narrowly missing the podium. The result offered a sign of her progress during a season in which she has had to adjust to a new level of competition.The Iron Dames, a women-focused racing organisation that has helped women enter motorsport since 2019, have also played a key role in her development. Granada credits the group with providing valuable support at a young age and hopes to follow its members into higher levels of competition.“This year, I’m working more based on how I’m feeling and what I’ve learned over the past years, and I’m managing quite well,” Granada reflects. “We always say in racing, you want to be very prepared for what you’re racing now and be ready to make the next step.”With the United States rounds in Austin and Las Vegas set to close the season, Granada’s focus remains on learning and improving. Her first F1 Academy campaign is not just about where she finishes in the standings. It is also about turning the lessons from her debut year into a stronger foundation for what comes next.