A failed project-Verstappen paved the way for De Heus

Emely de Heus started karting at a young age, after which she fought her way up. Her single seaters career started in the Spanish Formula 4 competition, in which she raced with boys and girls. She then switched to the W Series, specifically created for women. This has since transformed into the F1 Academy, in which De Heus competes for the MP Motorsport team, sponsored by Red Bull Ford.

De Heus began karting because of her father

In an exclusive interview with GPblog, De Heus said she started racing because of her father. "He started karting at the local kart track in Strijen when he was much younger. That is also where I started myself. Back then, he didn't really have the budget for it, so it was actually more of a hobby for him. Then he stopped for a very long time and got older. Then he actually started karting himself again and did a bit of car racing."

Her father's focus was first on her older brother. "Around that time, I was also born. I had been running around the racetrack since I was one. My brother started first. He is three years older. He started at the age of three, very early. They tried some kind of project, Max Verstappen, with him. But that didn't really work out. When he was 11, he was kind of done with it."

When her brother indicated he wanted to quit karting, De Heus smelled the opportunity. "Then I was like; 'Why doesn't he ask me if I want to drive?' I already had experience with quads and small minibikes in my backyard, because we live on a farm. I thought; 'Why can't I?' So then I just asked; 'Can I get in the kart one time then?' And then I got into my brother's kart. Since then I've never stopped."

Difficulties for De Heus in switching to F4 and W Series

After karting, the 21-year-old started her motorsport career in Spanish Formula 4. This switch was more difficult for her than expected. "We were told quite late that I was going to drive in Spanish Formula 4. Normal people get to know that well in advance. But with us, it kind of came our way. I remember it exactly. On 31 December 2020, I heard that I was going to drive in 2021. Then I was like; 'Oh it's already 2021 in one day'."

The experience gained in the F4 helped De Heus tremendously. "Sometimes I did miss a bit of experience against others who had already tested [that car]. But I did learn a lot, especially in the first year in Spanish Formula 4. A lot of new tracks. Everything was new for me. Also the driving. It's a very different driving style to karting of course. There's a lot more weight involved and downforce. So everything was a bit new for me."

The MP Motorsport driver then switched for the W Series. "I expected then that it wouldn't be so difficult, but that car in the W Series was quite different. I was used to Formula 4 and this, I think, was supposed to represent a kind of Formula 3 [car]. A bit like a FRECA car actually, but with an Alfa engine. So basically it's the same car as today's Eurocup."

De Heus also had a lot to learn in the W Series. "The car was higher than the normal series, so the set-up was a lot harder than what you would normally be used to. That made it especially difficult. But everyone had the same problem. Everyone was equal. It was tough for me for the first time though, because a lot of tracks were new to me."

She was not the only rookie that year and was able to get a lot of support from Chloe Chambers. "A lot of people had also been in it for a few years. For the rookies, I do remember that the year was always very difficult. Chloe Chambers, who is also in F1 Academy now, was also in it then. We were also rookies together. So I do remember we were both struggling then. But it all worked out in the end."

What does the future in motorsport look like for De Heus?

The Dutch racing driver, meanwhile, is busy working on her plans for next season. "I'm still working on that. For next year I am. If all goes well then the contract with F1 Academy will end. We are already looking. Probably for the next step FRECA or Eurocup. Preferably FRECA."

For later seasons, De Heus still has plenty of ideas and plans ready. "If it will be possible and if I am fast enough I want to enter Formula 3. But we are also already making some plans to maybe test in the US. Or something in the GTs. The options are still a bit open. But we have kind of established a plan where we are already going. But we always have to have plan B of course," she concluded.

Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels!

X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube