INTERVIEW: Nerea Martí dreamt of Formula racing, now “crazy” budgets threaten her future

It is well established that, to reach the top in motorsport, you either have to be very well connected, and those connections open doors to the level of funding required, or your parents have very deep pockets.

Martí at least had the foundations as her introduction to motorsport came at the age of nine when her father and uncle opened a karting circuit in her home town of Valencia. Martí's enthusiasm for wanting to take part had to be reined in. As she said: "They didn't want me to do much because it's difficult and they didn't want to see me in a wall, so I didn't do too much. Those first few years were more for fun."

It was not until Martí was 13 that she was let off the leash, and her progression was swift. In 2017, her speed caught the eye of Praga España Motorsport who signed up the then 15-year-old.

The support sparked transformation, as Martí became the first female to win the regional junior championship, going on to finish seventh in the Spanish Karting Championship. The following year, she was regional champion again at senior level, whilst she was also runner-up in the national Rotax Series.

By 2019, and with Praga España Motorsport opting to extend its contract with Martí, she progressed to single-seaters in the Spanish F4 Championship, finishing second in her second race. By the end of the year, she was 16^th overall in the standings, topped by a certain Franco Colapinto.

"It was difficult at the beginning, of course, but my dream had always been to race in single-seaters, and when I tried it for the first time, for me, it was the best feeling in the world," said Martí.

Without that support from Praga, Martí concedes "it would have been very hard for me." At the end of the season, another door opened as she was approached by W Series, the all-female championship that had debuted that year.

Sadly though, the coronavirus pandemic postponed the 2020 campaign, and it was not until 2021 that she made her bow. She finished a credible fourth in a campaign dominated by Jamie Chadwick, who won her second title, and Alice Powell. The 2022 season was a tougher one in which Martí was seventh, despite scoring two podiums in Miami and France.

It has so far been a similar story in F1 Academy, which stepped in for 2023 after the W Series folded. Driving with Campos Racing, Martí was fourth, behind fellow Spaniard Marta Garcia at the end of the 21 races. After being disqualified in the opening race in Austria, she scored six podiums, including her first victory in the first of the three races in France.

This year, in a shortened 14-race campaign, albeit appearing on the support card at seven F1 weekends, Martí has landed three podiums and lies fifth in the championship, with two weekends and four races remaining.

She is, however, the leading driver in the series not affiliated with an F1 team. Instead, she has been supported by Tommy Hilfiger.

"I don't have the help from an F1 team but I'm really happy because I'm with Tommy, and they've helped me and opened up a new world for me – the fashion world – a lot of doors," she said. "I like it. Of course, they're supporting me, pushing me in motorsport, on track but also off track. I think it's very important as a driver to be complete.

"And I have the support of Campos, which has helped prepare me physically with the simulator and everything, so for me, it's important I've been able to combine working with a team and a sponsor. I've met a lot of great people this past year, including Tommy Hilfiger, which was incredible. I've been really happy with them. I love the fashion world, and maybe I can keep growing in this world."

At least with Spanish outfit Campos, given its outstanding pedigree in the world of motorsport, Martí has been pushed to her limit.

"We've tried a lot of things and made a lot of improvements when we've been testing," said Martí. That's been important for the end of the championship, fighting for the top three. They've had confidence in me from the beginning. Last year we did a good job, this year we've been improving throughout the year and now we're fighting for the top three, which I think is possible.”

"I need to push more. I want to be top one, of course, but this year has been more difficult than last season. The level is higher. The drivers are more prepared. But we're there, fighting for top three. We've done a really good job, so I'm proud and enjoying it because maybe these are my last races in single-seaters.

"Obviously I've been very grateful for the opportunity I've been given by F1 Academy, and maybe thanks to them I can do another championship, to have more opportunities."

As far as Martí is concerned, however, she has confirmed that whatever those other opportunities are, she "will not continue in Formula [single-seaters]," as the money is not there.

"I would love to continue in Formula but we don't have the budget to do it," she said. "If someone comes and pays for everything then that would be amazing, but at the moment, this is not the case.

"The budgets are crazy. It's impossible to manage, and I need to focus on my future. I have the same dream, which I've had since I was a kid, but my goal now is different, so I'm going to enjoy my last races in Formula, and with F1 Academy."

The disappointment is naturally acute, but as she points out, "I can't do anything. I'm conscious we can't pay."

Martí hinted at maintaining her links with BMW España Motorsport as she and co-driver José Manuel de los Milagros won the Spanish Endurance Championship with the manufacturer in 2022 and the GT4 championship last year.

"I will try to link up with BMW for an important programme," she said. "Let's see. We are looking at what we can do, but I can't say at the moment."

Additionally, Martí will take part in the first female Formula E test with Andretti at her home track in Valencia on the 7^th November, though knows any opportunity will have to wait until 2026 as all the seats are filled for next year. "Maybe if I do a good job, then in the future I would love to be there in Formula E."

Although a long shot, Formula E would at least afford her a return to single-seaters, but for now, that door is about to close.

"I want to continue in motorsport," she said. "I love motorsport, it's my life. I just need to find the correct position for me, for the future. I am open to a lot of opportunities that are coming. I just need to analyse everything and try to work out what's best for me and my future."

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.