Calgary race car driver has dreams of one day competing in F1

Alex Chartier will make his Formula 4 debut this weekend in Aragon, Spain. The 15-year-old hopes to race in the top formula league down the line.

Alex Chartier has always had a need for speed.

Growing up, he tried a lot of different sports, but they didn’t meet his speed needs.

Chartier says that all changed when he starting racing.

Once he got behind the wheel, there was no turning back.

“I tried hockey and downhill skiing,” he said.

“But when I was around six years old, my parents took me to a tri-cart event at a local club in Calgary, and from then I was immediately hooked.”

Moving up to F4

Since then, Chartier has been lapping the field.

The 15-year-old and his family moved to Italy, and after successfully competing in the kart world, Chartier has graduated to F4.

He’ll make his debut in rounds three and five of the Formula Winter series with Mathilda Racing.

He says it’s going to be exciting.

“It’s a big step up,” said Chartier.

“The level of competition is extremely high, and every race week is extremely intense. My main goal for this year is just to be as consistent as possible and learn as much as possible.”

Great mentor

Chartier should be able to learn plenty from his manager, Giancarlo Fisichella.

He’s a podium-winning former Formula One racer and will help guide Chartier.

“It’s a good experience,” said Chartier.

“He’s a good guy, and he’s teaching me quite a bit and helping me get the right team to race with this year.”

Big goals

Chartier would love to follow in Fisichella’s footsteps and one day also compete in F1.

But he knows it’s going to take time.

“I think just develop the skills to help me climb up the ladder and hopefully make it to F1. Just develop the skills in F4 and then other categories on the way to F1.”