Singapore teen drivers Christian Ho, Kabir Anurag target F1 spots within 5 years

SINGAPORE: Two of the nation’s brightest motor racing talents are dreaming big and aiming to race in Formula 1 within the next five years.

Christian Ho and Kabir Anurag, both 17, had career boosts in the motorsport scene this year.

Christian recently made history by becoming the first Singaporean to secure a spot in Formula 3, a feeder race series two tiers below F1 for top talents to break into the elite.

Kabir is the first Singaporean to join an F1 team's driver development programme, which nurtures young talents.

CNA caught up with the teenagers ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix night race to find out how they are juggling school work with racing, their F1 ambitions, and their upcoming national service (NS).

F3 DRIVER CHRISTIAN HO

Next season, Christian will hit the tracks in F3 racing. Details on which team Christian is joining will be announced at a later date.

He hopes to follow in the footsteps of famous F3 drivers who ultimately progressed to F1, including Michael Schumacher and Max Verstappen.

Christian said that his road to success looks much clearer now, but acknowledges the tough challenges that lie ahead.

"When I was karting earlier on, there was not really a clear path. (Now,) it is really inspiring and satisfying for me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm only two steps away from F1, and I am more motivated to try and win,” he said.

"(However,) the competition (in F3) is so high. Basically, everybody there is really (among) the best drivers in the world. It will be really hard for me to make it, and I know how hard I have to work to become one of the best.”

Currently, Christian is competing in the Eurocup 3 series with Campos Racing. He is second in the standings out of 32 drivers after six rounds, with three race wins and six podium finishes.

He has two rounds left in the championship and still stands a chance to win.

Christian may be Singapore’s best hope for representation on the F1 tracks, but he is not the fastest at home – at least when he first started karting at the tender age of 11.

“We went on a family trip to Phuket and had a mini family competition (on a karting track). I was the second best in the family,” he recalled.

He made his move to Europe after realising just how different the standards are between continents during an Asian championship in Macao.

“There was this one guy from Europe (at the race) and he was really quick. I realised that the level in Europe is really high… (these are) the guys who would make it to F1,” he told CNA938.

Christian said that realistically, it takes three to four years to advance from F3 to F1, and has set his sights on that goal.

“I just do my job, I just try to win. The most important thing is to always aim high. As long as I trust the process and I keep working, I believe I can make it,” he said.

Outside of racing, he makes sure to put in the hours to study for his A-Level examinations, doing his Ten-Year Series every day.

Christian said he has already completed his medical for NS.

“I'm a fourth-generation Singaporean. My dad did NS, my grandfather did NS. I don't mind. I'm a Singaporean after all, it's my duty,” he said.

F1 DEVELOPMENT DRIVER KABIR ANURAG

Also in Singapore for the night race, Kabir will be in his team’s garage, watching and learning from the Alpine crew.

He was welcomed by fans clamouring for pictures and autographs during an Alpine engagement event alongside French F1 driver Esteban Ocon at Velocity @ Novena Square.

His childhood friends were there to support him. They told CNA that while Kabir is razor focused on his ambition, outside of racing, he is just the same good natured, humourous teen they have always known.

"It's a really proud moment. I’ve watched him train hard every day, put in the effort,” said Rafael James, who has known Kabir since they were four years old.

“At heart, he is always the same funny guy. Always cracking the same jokes. He hasn't changed much on the inside. Always a good friend,” said another friend Oliver Taylor.

Kabir said it was a “surreal” experience to be working at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, having grown up watching his role model Sebastian Vettel race on the very same tracks. He described the German as “a bit of a maestro under the Singapore streetlights”.

“Just four years ago, I started racing. To think that in just four years I can do this is very inspirational,” he said.

In the six months since becoming the first Singaporean to join an F1 development team, Kabir said he has gotten stronger and better at his craft.

At the Alpine Academy, the teenager goes through physical training in cardio, strength and endurance, and cognitive training that tests his reaction speed, decision making and multitasking abilities.

He aims to become an F1 driver by the time he is 22 years old – five years from now. The most challenging parts of racing for him are to not break focus and stay at the top of the game for the whole season.

"That's my career projection, which I think is very possible for me. Short term, it’s to fight for wins, fight for podiums, and to consistently be good. That's the hardest part – to do it consistently,” he told CNA.

“In racing, everybody's getting faster. We call it a moving target. If you're not moving forward, you're moving backwards. So, you always have to be on the up.”

He said motorsport is an up-and-coming industry in Singapore, and encourages young, aspiring drivers to take the wheels.

“Singapore motorsport has been taken much more seriously in the last decade. Drivers like myself racing on the world level and doing well, I think will propel Singapore to another level,” he said.

“The most important thing is for young Singaporeans to be willing to take the risk, and for their families to support them.”

Of his friend Christian racing in the F3, Kabir said: “I'm really happy for him. He’s moving up the ladder and it's really good for Singapore to see somebody go towards the goal. He's paving the path for me and everybody else to follow him.”

Kabir also lives and races in Europe, and takes online lessons. He said the flexible schedule and working towards his dream has made his grades better.

He said that while serving NS does affect athletes working towards the peak of their careers, “it doesn't mean that you can't be productive during NS, and it's a very useful experience”. He added he will “handle it” when the call of duty comes.

The F1 Singapore Grand Prix takes place from Sep 20 to 22 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Catch the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024 practice, qualifying and main races on Channel 5 and mewatch.