The 11-year-old Mumbai-born racer, widely regarded as one of India’s brightest motorsport prospects, met the Sports Minister along with her family at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday. During the meeting, Mandaviya congratulated the young karting star on her recent achievements and encouraged her to continue pursuing her ambitious dream of reaching Formula 1 — a feat no female driver has accomplished since 1992.
Atiqa, who recently became the first Indian racer to receive support from the F1 Academy, expressed her gratitude for the Minister’s encouragement and commitment.
Taking to social media after the meeting, she wrote:
“Thank you sir for the encouragement and all the valuable advice. Hon’ble Minister appreciated my recent performances that have made India proud. He also assured me all possible help and support in securing my dream of a Formula One seat.”
The Sports Minister also shared photographs from the meeting on social media, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting talented young athletes across diverse sporting disciplines.
Atiqa’s meeting with Mandaviya comes on the heels of a remarkable achievement in Greece, where she created history during COTFA Round 2.2. In the final week of May, she became only the third driver in the championship’s history to complete a clean sweep by securing pole position in qualifying, dominating the heat races, and winning the final race by a commanding margin.
Her stellar performances have not only elevated her status in international karting but have also strengthened hopes of seeing an Indian female driver compete at the highest level of motorsport in the future.
The development gains further significance as Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has repeatedly expressed his desire to bring Formula 1 back to India, which last hosted a Grand Prix in 2013 at the Buddh International Circuit.
With growing international recognition, support from the F1 Academy, and encouragement from the highest levels of government, Atiqa Mir’s inspiring journey continues to capture the imagination of motorsport enthusiasts across the country.
