How a Trip to the Mall Sparked a 10-Year-Old’s Formula 1 Dreams

Sometimes, the biggest dreams take shape in the smallest moments. Atiqa Mir’s began with a weekend trip to a mall. A casual weekend outing turned into the start of an important journey in her life.

A 5-year-old girl climbed into a small electric kart for fun and unknowingly drove straight into the future.

Today, that same girl, now 10, is known as the world’s highest-ranked U-10 female driver. She is one of the most promising young racers global motorsport has ever witnessed.

But this extraordinary story has a man behind it. Let’s see who?

The Mall Ride That Changed Everything

Atiqa’s father is a former national karting champion and Formula Asia Vice Champion.

Atiqa’s love for speed was not planned. Though she loved cars since she was young, but it never linked to speed.

At the mall that day, she spotted a children’s karting track. Most kids go there for fun and excitement. But Atiqa’s ride felt different. She didn’t just enjoy it, she controlled the kart with a natural instinct that surprised the staff, the spectators, and even her own parents.

Her father saw it first - the spark, the raw talent. And in that moment, he knew his job wasn’t to shape her future around the gift she already had. But it wasn’t easy…..

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Fighting Words That Hurt  

From the age of 5, Atiqa started hearing a sentence, “Racing isn’t for girls.”

But there was one person who refused to let those words settle into her heart, her father.

He became her first coach, her shield, her anchor. He taught her to race loud enough to drown every voice out.

He trained with her. He travelled with her. The late night practice, the early mornings….he was always there.

Most importantly, he protected her dreams from the noise of the world. Her Dad was her first idol.

In an interview, Atiqa said, “I grew up watching my dad race, so he was my first hero. Now, I’m a big Max Verstappen fan. I admire how he rose quickly from karting to Formula 1 — and the confidence and determination he shows on track.”

The Rise of a Little Girl with Big Speed

As she moved from fun karting to professional tracks, something became clear, Atiqa was extraordinary.

Lap after lap, she proved that passion has no age and courage has no gender. What started in a mall became a dream strong enough to take her to global podiums.

Her achievements today speak louder than every stereotype she ever battled:

???? First Indian to secure a Top-10 finish at the Rotax Euro Trophy
???? First female racer to win at the Max Challenge International Trophy, Le Mans
???? Defeated racers from 40 nations
???? World’s highest-ranked U-10 female driver

And behind each of them stood a father who never let go of her hand, not even for a second.

Every medal she wins today once had a doubt attached to it.
Every trophy she lifts once had a stereotype attached to it.
Every record she breaks once had a gender expectation attached to it.

But instead of arguing back, she chose to answer with results.

Dreams don’t always begin big.
But they grow big when the right person stands behind you.

To every girl who has ever heard “This isn’t for you.”
To every child who has been told to aim smaller.
To every young dreamer waiting for courage

May you find someone who believes in you the way Atiqa’s father believed in her.