F1 SÃO PAULO GP GRADUATES NEW CLASS OF FEMALE MECHANICS IN PROFESSIONAL AND DIVERSITY ACTION
Partnership with Escola do Mecânico generates employment and income and brings diversity to a professional universe that is still predominantly male.
The F1 São Paulo GP contributed to graduating another class of female mechanics in partnership with Escola do Mecânico (Mechanic’s School). With the new class, the event expands its social action and already counts 400 families benefiting from the initiative, which is in its fifth edition. The social project aims at the professional training of women in situations of social vulnerability and is partnered with the Espaço Feminismos Plurais (Plural Feminisms Space), led by professor and researcher Djamila Ribeiro.
On Thursday, November 5, the new class joined the women already graduated by the project since 2022, in the program supported by Mubadala Capital. A group of about 130 students and alumnae of the training course had a special meeting with the professor and also with the CEO of the São Paulo GP, Alan Adler, at the Interlagos circuit, which hosts the Formula 1 GP between Friday and Sunday.
The meeting included a surprise for the women, all fans of cars and Formula 1. Amidst much excitement and photos, they had the opportunity to take a lap around the track. Three special trucks, which take VIP guests on the same route during the event weekend, led the entire group to every corner of the historic São Paulo circuit.
Before the track tour, the students and alumnae were able to chat with Djamila Ribeiro. “The impact of this action is difficult to measure because it improves both the self-esteem and the economic empowerment of these women, in the possibility of broadening their horizons to spaces where they never imagined being, like here at the circuit. It is something that moves them because it is a space they saw as impossible. The São Paulo GP shows that it is possible to take actions that will change the lives of grassroots women who live in the peripheries,” says Djamila.
Since 2022, the São Paulo GP has been offering scholarships for women who want to enter the automotive field. In total, over 400 professionals have already benefited during this period, with 60 this year alone. The courses are taught by Escola do Mecânico, a course that emerged as a social project created by Sandra Nalli.
“From the first meeting with the GP organization, I was very enthusiastic about this project, with this idea of creating a movement just to train women. I remember that when I heard this for the first time, my heart even fluttered. That was what we needed. We are helping women in situations of vulnerability who are now inside a promising market,” states Sandra Nalli.
With the scholarships offered by the São Paulo GP, hundreds of women are opening up new opportunities in the job market. “We can only cause real transformation in this country through education. And this project is the picture of what we believe in. More than a social inclusion project, this program is, above all, an employability movement, a women’s empowerment movement,” says the founder of Escola do Mecânico.
“I am very proud to support a project like this. The objective is to promote professional training, increase the employability of these women, and bring diversity to a universe that is still essentially male. Every year we bring the classes to the circuit so they can experience a little of the GP atmosphere. Today’s activity was particularly special. We were all very happy,” stated Alan Adler, CEO of the São Paulo GP.
The São Paulo GP is already working on a new stage of the project, which will focus on identifying job opportunities for the new professionals.
A NEW PROFESSION, A NEW BUSINESS The success of the project can be measured by the transformations caused in the lives of students and alumnae. One of them is Josefa de Fátima, 52 years old. Graduated two years ago, she finished the course at Escola do Mecânico and went straight to a job at Pirelli, in true hands-on style. “I took care of brakes, suspension, alignment, balancing, tire changes, and shock absorbers,” lists the mechanic, a fan of driver Lewis Hamilton.
Motivated by what she learned in the course, Ms. Josefa opened a tire repair shop to work with her husband in the south zone of São Paulo, the same region where the circuit is located. “At the beginning of this year, I opened our tire shop in Jardim Ângela. I am perfecting my skills in tire repair. I work with my husband, who already understood a bit about the subject. And now I’m going to include my two children. Everyone has a profession now. We can already make a little money.”
The Formula 1 MSC Cruises São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 takes place on November 6, 7, and 8 at the Interlagos circuit. All tickets to watch the race at the circuit are sold out. There are still tickets remaining for the F1 Fanzone of the São Paulo GP. More information about the F1 Fanzone of the São Paulo GP is available at the website f1saopaulo.com.br/fanzone.
About the F1 São Paulo GP The F1 São Paulo GP is the main recurring event on the Brazilian sports calendar. One of the rounds of the World Championship for drivers and constructors, it happens annually at the Interlagos circuit in the city of São Paulo. The last edition gathered an audience of 303,627 people over the three days of the event and injected more than R$ 2.3 billion into the local economy, besides generating around 23,683 jobs. Broadcast live to over 180 countries, it generates US$ 516 million in media return for the city of São Paulo. In addition to providing quality entertainment, the São Paulo GP offers its partners a powerful platform for brand exposure and networking. In total alignment with F1 guidelines, the São Paulo GP is a disseminating agent of the culture of environmental sustainability, respect for diversity, and inclusion.
More information for the press: Castilho de Andrade/Marília Frias [email protected]