Australian Teen Racer Joanne Ciconte Targets F1 with Japan Move

Australian teenager Joanne Ciconte, 17, is advancing her motorsport career with a move to Japan, aspiring to reach the highest levels, including Formula 1.

Ciconte has a background in junior karting and transitioned to single-seater race cars in 2024. In 2025, she competed in the all-female F1 Academy series as the competition's youngest driver.

Her relocation to Japan is part of her strategy to progress in her racing career.

Competing in the Kyojo Cup

She is slated to compete in this season's Kyojo Cup, an all-female formula racing series at Fuji Speedway. After an impressive test in December, Ciconte secured her spot and will race for team KCMG in the 10-race season. She expressed excitement about this shift and her performance expectations.

The Formula 1 Ambition and Super Formula Goal

Ciconte's ultimate ambition is to compete in Formula 1. Her immediate goal includes earning a spot in Super Formula, a Japanese open-wheel series known for developing F1 drivers such as Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, and Stoffel Vandoorne.

She identifies Super Formula as the second-fastest open-wheeler category after Formula 1.

Developing Skills and Managing Pressure

Additionally, Ciconte will participate in two rounds of this year's AU4 championship. She credits her 2025 F1 Academy experience with providing insight into the demands of an F1 driver's life and teaching her to manage the mental pressures of international competition. She maintains a consistent training schedule of daily workouts and simulator use.

Upcoming 2026 Schedule

Ciconte's racing schedule for 2026 includes the opening round of the AU4 championship in May, followed by the first round of the Kyojo Cup in Japan the subsequent weekend.