For our latest interview, I’ve been able to ask some questions to three time FIA Girls on Track participant and ‘The Fastest Girl in Sweden’, Milla Sjöstrand!
Hey Milla, great to do this with you!
First question; Who’s your racing hero?
My racing hero is Sebastian Vettel because of his skill, determination and success on the track.
I remember watching him drive when I was around 5 years old and I also wanted to race. He
inspires me to push harder and chase my dream of becoming a professional racing driver.
What’s your favourite circuit?
The favourite circuit of the ones I’ve driven on, it must be Uppsala in Sweden. It is a track that
combines the top speed in the very long straight, with the technical part. This unique
combination is great and really challenges the drivers.
What’s your favourite ever helmet design?
I like my helmets in blue. I’ve used a blue helmet with a nice design my whole career. It makes it
a little more personal and I really like that.
“The fastest girl in Sweden” is a big title - is the aim to start seeing where you can take that title?
I am confident to be the fastest Swedish girl. I’ve raced a lot in Sweden and taken multiple wins and podiums every season, proving that I am a racing driver who doesn't give up. In the
programme Girls on Track, I am the only Swedish girl ever going to the final.
Yet I am not satisfied being just the fastest girl, I want to be the fastest overall, all time and I am working my way although being a girl in a male dominated sport.
You’ve been part of the FIA Girls On Track programme: how important has that been to your development?
It has been really important. I got to meet other girls from all over the world and share our
stories. From this programme you get more inspiration and motivation to improve yourself. I am the only girl in the world being selected to FIA Girls On Track three times. This shows that I
have proven myself to be a really good driver with exceptional potential.
At just 13 years old, out of over 100 people, after multiple selections, I was chosen as a finalist and got to do tests and training at Ferrari in Maranello. This is something I’ll always remember and keep working.
In 2023 I was selected again, but this time for F4 driving. This was an amazing experience working with Prema Racing. I love to work with people who also have high ambitions, just like I do, and I got to see that even with not a lot of experience in F4 I still manage to be one of the fastest.
You’ve tested a few different cars and series’- what’s been your favourite to test so far?
My favorite car of the ones I have driven, it must be the Formula 4. It is a great car especially in
the beginning of a single seater career to start off with F4. The car has a great speed and is
really fun to drive.
Are you able to share with us any news on racing plans for 2025?
Not everything yet, but the goal for the 2025 season is to hopefully move up to race in single
seaters or some other car.
Is the goal for you to get into F1 Academy, or are you happy to race anywhere at this stage?
F1 Academy would be a good step in my career up to the top. I know I have the talent to be in
the top there. Before I would take that step, I believe I need to get more time behind the
steering wheel of a single seater to be able to fully show my potential.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about racing so far?
I’ve learned that precision and hard work are essential in racing because even the smallest
mistake can mean the difference between victory and failure. Precision ensures perfect braking, acceleration and focus doing the exact same thing every lap. Hard work, through training,mindset, strategy builds consistency and speed.
Success in racing isn’t just about talent, it's
about relentless effort, attention to detail and improving.
What is your ultimate goal?
My ultimate goal is to be a professional racing driver because I love the speed, competition and
the thrill of pushing myself and the car to the absolute limit.
Thanks!
Thanks to Milla for taking part, and to Minardi Management for their help setting this up!
📸 image credits: Milla Sjöstrand, F1 Academy, Sky Sports.
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