During the week of preparations for the Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix, the Vice-President of the FIA for Sport in South America, Fabiana Ecclestone, carried out an extensive institutional schedule in Brazil. The activities highlighted the organisation’s commitment to road safety, nurturing the next generation, and strengthening the role of women in motorsport.

The itinerary began on Tuesday (3 November) at the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goiás (Alego), where Fabiana took part in the official launch of the Youth Ambassadors for Safe Mobility project. The initiative is part of the global Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life (SM4A4L) programme, developed by the FIA in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The project aims to empower teenagers to act as ambassadors for road safety best practices within their communities, using Goiás as a pioneer state for nationwide expansion.

During the event, which also presented Legislative Certificates of Merit to professionals in the field, Fabiana highlighted the transformative power of motorsport in service to society: “I am immensely grateful to the Government of Goiás for having the vision to invest in a road safety campaign. Implementing this project in Goiás today is the fulfilment of a major goal that will certainly yield great results. Motorsport has a unique ability to lend visibility and strength to awareness campaigns that save lives on the roads”, stated Fabiana Ecclestone.

Encouraging female participation and tributes in motorsport

The following day, Wednesday (4 November), Fabiana attended the 30th anniversary ceremony of the Capacete de Ouro (Golden Helmet), the most traditional awards event in Brazilian motorsport, held in São Paulo. Alongside leading figures from the industry and the sport, the executive revealed the creation of a category exclusively dedicated to women at the awards, starting in 2027.

The announcement was made jointly with the President of the Female Motorsport Commission (CFA), Bia Figueiredo; engineer and commission project coordinator, Rachel Loh; 16-year-old driver Manu Clauset; and Isabel Reis, Director of Motormídia, the publishing house that organises the Capacete de Ouro.

“I would like to thank Isabel Reis, who, as a woman, has also helped pave the way for girls in motorsport. My thanks also go to all the families, organisers, drivers, and sponsors for their complete involvement and dedication to this sport. Before joining the FIA, I worked extensively behind the scenes and I know just how tough it is. Seeing this event celebrating 30 years is very special. The women's award is an excellent initiative. When Isabel told me about it, I felt it was crucial to welcome and, above all, support the work of these girls through what we have been doing in South America and internationally. Today, we have strong female representation, and I invite everyone to get involved in motorsport, in whichever field it may be, because it is a truly passionate sport”, highlighted the FIA Vice-President.

Alongside the President of the CBA (Brazilian ASN) Giovanni Guerra, she also took part in the Capacete de Ouro's tribute to Portugal's Rui Marques, FIA Race Director in Formula 1, in recognition of his work officiating world-class international events.

Immersion in the Interlagos Paddock

Concluding the series of commitments prior to the start of practice for the São Paulo GP, Fabiana Ecclestone attended the latest edition of FIA Girls on Track at the Interlagos Circuit on Thursday (5 November).

Targeted at young women aged 15 to 22, the programme provided a complete behind-the-scenes immersion into Formula 1. Participants gained access to the paddock, interacted with teams and technical personnel, and experienced first-hand the wide range of potential careers in motorsport — from driving to engineering, media, marketing, safety,and operational management.

“Seeing the enthusiasm in these young women's eyes as they realise that motorsport is also a place for them is incredibly rewarding. FIA Girls on Track is not just about shaping future drivers; it is about opening doors in areas such as engineering, telemetry, communications, and management. This exchange of experiences within the real Formula 1 environment demonstrates in practice that there are no limits to where women can reach in our sport”, Fabiana concluded during the activity at Interlagos.

Through strategic actions connecting traffic awareness, social inclusion, and high-level competition, Fabiana Ecclestone’s visit to Brazil reinforces the FIA’s commitment to transforming motorsport into a global platform for human development and social responsibility.