Singapore's next speed kings: Meet the young racers in Formula 3 and 4
A pair of teenage racing drivers are making their mark on the global motorsport scene for the Republic, as they aim to become the first Singaporeans to race in Formula One.
Christian Ho, 18, has just joined New Zealand team Rodin Motorsport for the 2026 season. He is Singapore's first full-time driver in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, a key stepping stone towards Formula One.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Kabir Anurag is aiming to climb the ranks in Europe as he competes in the Formula 4 Italian Championship and Euro 4 Championship series.
Formula 3 and Formula 4 are both open-wheel racing categories for junior drivers transitioning into professional motorsport.
A childhood dream born on the track
The two racers, who are both currently based in the UK, told The New Paper in July that they caught a passion for racing at a young age.
Ho was just three when he began watching F1 races with his father. "I couldn't stay up for the whole race at that age, so I'd watch the first half, then go to bed," he said with a laugh.
But the turning point came during a family trip to Phuket, where he was allowed to try go-karting at just six years old.
"I wasn't supposed to drive, but the track owner let me. I ended up being the quickest in the family. The manager told my dad that I was quite good, and should start karting seriously."
For Kabir, it was the thrill of watching Sebastian Vettel dominate the Singapore Grand Prix between 2011 and 2013 that inspired him. "I remember Vettel's shiny helmet. He had a special one for Singapore. That image is just engraved in my head."
That memory eventually led him to pack his bags and move overseas at the age of 14 to pursue racing full-time.
Both drivers went on to cut their teeth in competitive karting, a standard path for future Formula One hopefuls.
Hungry for consistency
The step up to single-seaters from karts has been challenging, with visibility so limited that racing is almost entirely based on instinct, said Ho.
He considers himself a calm and composed racer during wheel-to-wheel battles - the high-pressure moments when drivers fight side by side for position - but is aggressive during qualifying. "It's like exams. When you're in qualifying, your position is locked after that. It's all or nothing."
Ho said consistency is key. "You can't win a championship by being fast one weekend and disappearing the next."
In 2023, he celebrated a breakthrough when he clinched the Eurocup-3 title, a series designed as the next step for Formula 4 graduates to develop their careers at a high level.
But the victory was bittersweet. "They cancelled the final event due to floods, so there wasn't even a ceremony. I found out I won the title months later and just went out with friends," recalled Ho.
Passion, perseverance and podium dreams
Both drivers are currently juggling studies and racing.
For most teenagers, exam season means late nights spent revising in the quiet of their bedrooms. For Ho and Kabir, it can mean revising between laps at one of the world's historic racing circuits.
Boarding school keeps Ho from regular simulator training, but he makes up for it by squeezing in practice before race weeks and keeping a strict routine. "On a normal day it's just school, then training from 5pm with a plan from my coach," he explained.
Kabir currently drives for US Racing in the Italian and Euro 4 championships, training five to six days a week. His regimen includes simulator sessions, strength and endurance work, and playing other sports to stay agile and focused.
Kabir recalled racing at Monza in the morning, driving to Milan for an exam, then returning to the circuit the same afternoon. "Sometimes it's tough, yes. But most of the time, I'm doing what I like, so it's okay," he said.
"I'm also trying to get into cooking so I can start preparing my own lunches," he added with a laugh. "You have to love this sport to stay in it."
His proudest moment yet: hearing Singapore's national anthem play after a win in the 2025 Formula Winter Series at MotorLand Aragón, Spain.
"It was really powerful, probably only two or three people there even recognised it. But for me, it meant everything."
Flying the Singapore flag
Ho is one of just three Asians on the F3 grid. "People don't really expect Asian drivers, especially from Singapore, to be good at motorsports. I want to prove them wrong."
Kabir, who is the first Singaporean to join the Alpine F1 Driver Development Programme, which grooms young drivers for a potential Formula One career, added: "We have a Grand Prix here, but it's always been more of a spectacle. It's nice to see that we're starting to have a real presence in motorsports."
He also sees signs that the landscape is changing. "In my race weekends now, there are South Americans, Asians, Americans, and just a handful of Europeans. It's a much more equal playing field."
Eyes on the future
The two racers both hope to one day race in Formula One, where the financial rewards can amount to millions. For now, though, drivers at the junior levels like Kabir and Ho typically do not receive salaries, and the costs of racing and training are usually borne by their families or sponsors.
"My goal is to be the best I can be, even if that means learning from drivers who are faster or even slower. There's always something to improve," said Mr Ho
Kabir's advice for aspiring young drivers: "Love it enough to sacrifice for it. It's not easy, and there'll be tough times. But if you enjoy the drive, everything else will follow."
