Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, hence its name – Formula 1. The sport’s greatest weakness is that no women compete. That may be about to change – F1 has found its first potential female F1 star for the future – Lia Block.
2023 started out as a horrific year for Lia Block. Her famous father and well-known rally champion was killed in a snowmobile accident on January the 2nd 2023. It was a horrific blow, not just for his loving family, but for fans from all around the world!
Despite the horror of losing a dad and husband, the Block family got down to getting on with their life and doing everything they could to honor Ken’s memory.
How is Lia Block Joining F1
The Williams F1 team has seen the incredible potential in Lia Block and has decided to sign her up to the 2024 F1 Academy program.
Lia will go through her first season in open-wheel racing with ART Grand Prix in F1 Academy alongside McLaren junior Bianca Bustamante. Revealing her excitement to the media, she said:
“I am so excited to be joining the Williams Driver Academy and competing in F1 Academy in 2024!
Lia Block
“This is something I never could have dreamed of. I can’t wait to embrace this new experience and learn as much as possible.”
Speaking on the successful selection of Block into the team, Williams team principal James Vowles said:
“We are excited to welcome Lia to Williams Racing as our F1 Academy driver for 2024. Lia has already achieved a tremendous amount in motorsport, has incredible natural talent, and the champion mindset and dedication to make a success of her journey into open-wheel racing.”
“We cannot wait to start on this journey together. As a team, we commit to Formula 1 and F1 Academy’s joint efforts to improve female representation in motorsport, and we look forward to working with Lia as a key part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy.”
Everything You Need to Know about Her
Lia Block Age
Lia was born on October 1, 2006 (17 years old) in Park City, Utah. Block attended a private school in Park City, Utah, where she balanced her education with her racing career
She graduated from high school in 2023 and planned to pursue a degree in engineering.
Ken Block Daughter Lia
Her parents are Ken Block and Lucy Block. She has two older brothers, Keegan and Landon, and a younger sister, Lola.
Where does Lia Block live?
At present, Lia Block is living in Park City, Utah, United States
How Tall is Lia Block (Height and Weight)?
Lia Block is 5 feet 7 inches tall, and she weighs approximately 60 kilograms.
Lia Block Audi Quattro
A project that Ken worked on with Lia was to rebuild an older Audi Quattro into her first car. The series was published in You Tube and shows how close father and daughter were with each other.
The series starts with the following clip.
Lia Block Racing
Lia grew up in a family that loved cars and racing. She started karting at the age of six and learned how to drive a manual transmission car at the age of eight.
Lia was inspired by her father (Ken Block), who taught her how to drift and perform stunts in his famous Gymkhana videos.
She competed in various car rally championships, such as the American Rally Association, the Hoonicorn vs. the World, and the UMC Kart Championship. She won the 2023 American Rally Association Open Two-Wheel Drive class, becoming the youngest ARA champion in history.
Lia Block Hoonicorn
She also beat her father in the second season of Hoonicorn vs. the World, a popular YouTube show where drivers race against the Ford Mustang Hoonicorn.
Lia’s Journey to F1
She joined the Williams Driver Academy in 2023, an initiative from the Formula One team Williams to promote talent in different racing series. Lia will race in the F1 Academy in 2024, a single-seater series for female drivers that is linked to Formula One.
She will drive for the ART Grand Prix team, wearing the Williams Racing colors.
Lia Block hopes to become the first female driver to race in Formula One, following her dream and honoring her father’s legacy. Her father, Ken Block, died in a snowmobile accident on January 2, 2023, at the age of 55. She paid tribute to her father on social media, calling him her best friend and her whole world.
Conclusion
We are very excited for Lia Block, one of the most talented drivers around. With her background, training and natural skills I think she represents one of the best chances for a female driver to enter – and succeed – in F1!
