Sophia Flörsch in the fast lane: “I want to finish on the podium“

• Flörsch in interview, talking about school, motor sport and dreams of Formula 1
• Flörsch: “It's obviously something special to beat the boys”
• Formula 1 ambitions? “I aim to be there in three to four years“

Munich: Sophia Flörsch (15, Grünwald, Motopark) needed very little time to settle into the ADAC Formula 4. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégée narrowly missed the podium in the very first race during the season opener at Oschersleben. She now intends to attack again at the Lausitzring. In interview, 15-year-old Flörsch talks about her experiences so far in the ADAC High-Speed Academy, her expectations of the race at the Lausitzring and dreams of F1.

Sophia, you are in your first season of the ADAC Formula 4 and are in the middle of preparing for important exams at school, plus, you have dreams of Formula 1. What is life like for you on a day-to-day basis?
Sophia Flörsch: I'm at the grammar school and aim to take my exams. My parents think it is important that I get a good education apart from motor sport. Anything can happen at any time, and then I don't want to be left with nothing. I can go on driving provided my grades at school are OK. I'm receiving a lot of support in that respect from school. Many thanks to them. Most classmates are proud of me, watch me race and are always asking me at school how things went.

Given your workload, do you have any free time?
Sophia Flörsch: We race on eight weekends per year. There are always periods in between when I'm at home. I like to meet my friends when I'm free, or do something with the family, but I also do sport every day. I train either for strength or endurance. It's what keeps me on a level so to speak.

What role does your private life play?
Sophia Flörsch: My friends and family support me always and in every situation. My kid sister is my biggest fan. I'm a positive person and confident, but I still always try to remain me despite all the hype. I think that's important!

Motor racing is more of a sport for men. What do you find so attractive about it?
Sophia Flörsch: Being involved in motor sport is like a dream come true. It's always been fun, and my enthusiasm has not changed one bit from the very first day. It's just great to race.

And what is it like as a woman to race against men – and to win too?
Sophia Flörsch: Let's get this out of the way, I want to be a good driver and be judged for my performance on the track – regardless of my gender. I always aim to win, and it doesn't matter to me whether I'm racing against men or women. I have to beat both the men and the women if I want to be the fastest, but it's obviously something special when you beat the guys and are not just along for the ride. The standard of the guys is definitely better, so it's more difficult to beat them.

Your debut season has gone well so far. How would you say you are doing after the races in Oschersleben and at the Sachsenring?
Sophia Flörsch: I was very pleased with my start of the season in Oschersleben. Had I been more lucky, a place on the podium would have been possible, but certain things didn't go as I would have wished. Overall, I wasn't too happy with the weekend at the Sachsenring. I made a bit of a mess of qualifying, and the quali at the Sachsenring is a lot more important than at other circuits. There is really only one place where you can overtake easily. The races were fine. I've shown that I can drive. Unfortunately, not much more was possible from my grid position.

And now, you are heading to the Motorsport Festival Lausitzring. How do you feel about lining up there?
Sophia Flörsch: I'm really looking forward to the races at the Lausitzring. I've done some testing there already. You can definitely overtake more often and in more places than at the Sachsenring. The circuit is fun and has a lot of corners that are completely different. Fast turns, slow turns, chicanes – the track is completely different to the Sachsenring.

And what are your aims for the weekend?
Sophia Flörsch: I don't want to put any pressure on myself, but obviously, our goal has to be to finish on the podium at the Lausitzring. We had the pace at the Sachsenring, but qualifying upset the apple cart. We are fast enough to do it.

Who will be among the front-runners in your opinion?
Sophia Flörsch: Mike David Ortmann is a very strong driver, he also knows the track really well. Apart from him, I expect that Mick Schumacher and Joey Mawson will also be fast. Perhaps there will be one or two surprises as well.

Which races on the schedule are you looking forward to most?
Sophia Flörsch: The Red Bull Ring in Austria is my favourite track. The whole setup is really nice. I can't wait to race there.

You are sponsored by the ADAC Sports Foundation. How is it going?
Sophia Flörsch: Being sponsored by the ADAC Sports Foundation is great. I was accepted on their programme when I was still karting. There are lots of seminars and fitness tests. It's always good to know where you stand.

What are your aims in motor racing?
Sophia Flörsch: My goal is to get into Formula 1 and become the first female world champion. I'm not putting any time constraints on myself where that's concerned, but obviously, you always have to make plans. It would be brilliant to end up in Formula 1 in three or four years' time – but you need a plenty of luck to achieve that.