Racing Hearts

Before Adeline Alaire became Formula One's first female World Champion, she was a little girl growing up in her father Nathan's racing garage.

Her mother left when she was young, leaving Nathan to raise Adeline and her younger brother Mathèo alone. Nathan became their father, teacher, provider, and mechanic, working multiple jobs to keep them afloat. Both Nathan and Adeline had eidetic memory, and Adeline's remarkable ability to retain everything she saw helped her learn quickly-especially when she began watching her father work on engines.

Because Nathan couldn't afford childcare, Adeline spent much of her childhood at the garage. That was where she discovered karting. An FIA scout noticed her talent and eventually offered her a fully funded opportunity after Nathan initially had to decline because of the cost. Adeline went on to win the karting championship, crossing paths with future F1 stars including Lando Norris, George Russell, Alex Albon, and Charles Leclerc.

Nathan sacrificed everything to support her career. At sixteen, Adeline joined PREMA for the F3 championship and won it, earning promotion to F2 at seventeen. But during her F2 season, Nathan was diagnosed with an incurable condition. He continued supporting her until his death just one week before her final race. Despite the grief, Adeline raced-and won-before honoring him on the podium by pointing toward the sky.

In 2018, at eighteen, Adeline joined Renault F1 alongside Carlos Sainz. Her arrival instantly made headlines, with team principals competing for her attention after her dominant F3 and F2 campaigns. She quickly became the paddock's newest sensation.

But Adeline ignored the noise and dominated her rookie season and became World Champion at just eighteen, breaking Sebastian Vettel's record as the youngest champion in F1 history.

While carrying the memory of the father who had sacrificed everything to get her there.

The girl from the garage had officially become Formula One history.