Nicole Havrda, a promising young driver from Comox Valley, British Columbia, has officially signed on with American Express for the 2025 F1 Academy season. At 19 years old, Havrda's racing career, which began in karting competitions back in Canada,

Rising star Nicole Havrda has joined the F1 Academy grid for the 2025 season and will drive for Hitech Grand Prix with a sponsorship from American Express. The 19-year-old Canadian driver became the first woman to win the Formula Pro USA Western Championship during the 2023 season,

The 19-year-old Canadian driver will wear the company’s signature blue and silver colorways and its Shop Small logos during the seven races this year.

Nicole Havrda has never seen a woman start a race in Formula One. No one has in nearly 50 years. The rising Canadian racing star sees no reason why she can’t be the one to end that streak.

Nicole Havrda is doing both. The 19-year-old rising star from Comox Valley, British Columbia has taken a bold step into the elite world of motorsports by joining the all-female F1 Academy, an innovative series designed to shatter longstanding barriers in a field historically dominated by men and develop young female talent for higher levels of motorsport.