Maria told The Portugal News that her career started when she was “just four years old”, and it all happened accidentally. Without vivid memories of the moment, the driver stated that it all happened when her “father was driving another kart with a rope that he attached” to the one Maria was driving. All of a sudden, the young girl's father, let the rope go, which scared not only her father but the experienced driver that was near the circuit. However, it seems like Maria Germano Neto was born with a driving talent, and at only four years of age, she was driving the kart all by herself as if it was something she had been doing for years.

Not much later than her first time driving, Maria participated in a race, of only five years old. Maria mentioned that does not have a memory of how she felt during the race, as she was so young. However, she clearly remembers that enjoyed the moment, asking her father to go on another race, to feel the same emotions one more time.

The awards kept coming after that, winning the Portuguese Cup in 2016, and being considered a Jovem Promessa do Desporto Nacional (Young Promise of National Sports), by the Portuguese Federation of Motor Racing and Karting. At nine years old, Maria was the youngest driver to ever compete in the finals of the world championship Le Mans.

In 2020, after winning the race “Girls on Track – Rising Stars”, Ferrari wanted to work with Maria, inviting her to their team. Without being certain of all the advantages this may bring, as it will depend on Maria’s further results in races, the pilot is already confident about being part of the Ferrari team. According to the young racer, “Being linked to Ferrari is very good as it can also attract sponsors.” Plus, the “Ferrari team is one of the best known, if not the most famous”, which also makes Maria Germano Neto proud of being part of such an important team in the motorsport field.

Sports and school

Like all 14-year-old girls, Maria also has to study despite the rush of the races. The young driver finds “reconciling studies with racing difficult”, as she is out of Portugal during certain periods, leading her to be absent from school. However, Maria Germano Neto knows that studying is important and it is during competitions that she takes “the opportunity to study.” Nevertheless, the teachers also provide some support to Maria, sometimes providing online help for her, which turns out to be very useful.

The support comes not only from teachers but also her friends and colleagues from the school who, although used to her absences, “are curious” and like to ask Maria questions about “the races, travelling and training”, mentioning that she feels supported by them.

Looking forward

Aware of the difficulties, but not giving up on her dreams, Maria Germano Neto told The Portugal News that she wants to “move up to higher categories, such as Formula 4 and Formula 3”, dreaming that someday she could eventually reach Formula 1.

Author

Deeply in love with music and with a guilty pleasure in criminal cases, Bruno G. Santos decided to study Journalism and Communication, hoping to combine both passions into writing. The journalist is also a passionate traveller who likes to write about other cultures and discover the various hidden gems from Portugal and the world. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos