Miguel Costa is 11 years old and considered an early talent by Estadão Content

If Brazil's new generation in motorsport has surnames known as Fittipaldi and Piquet, the next one could be led by a boy with a little known name. And it couldn't even be any different. After all, Miguel Costa is only 11 years old. But it's already considered an early talent. He accumulates praise among the country veterans and became the youngest Brazilian to join an academy of young drivers of the Sauber team.

Miguel has been drawing more attention outside the country. Not by chance. He was born in Miami, United States, and never lived in Brazil. Still, he has dual citizenship. Your parents, Brazilians, are your biggest boosters.

" It was my dad who showed me the first Formula One race on TV. He was running a kart, he's an amateur pilot. And took me for a light run. I went to the track and loved the feeling from the first time I drove. I was only three years old ", told Estadão the young talent, with a slight American accent. " I fell in love with the race. Wanted to do more and more. Always went to the track every weekend ".

Constant practice led the boy to the first competitions as early as five. That's when it premiered in regional competitions before playing for SKUSA, one of the most traditional kart championships in the world. In 2017 he was the youngest driver to win a stage of the Florida Winter Tour. When he's not on the track, Miguel runs to the simulator. He admits that if his parents let it, he stays all day depending on the kart. "I get home from the track and go to the simulator".

The rapid evolution accredited the boy to compete for the Virtual Das Estrelas Challenge, online competition held to move Brazilian drivers amid the pandemic. Miguel competed against pilots of Felipe Massa, Rubens Barrichello and Enzo Fittipaldi. And he wasn't intimidated. It was the feeling of the event, finishing in seventh overall between 53 competitors. The 11 year old boy was the only one to reach the Top 10 in nine of the 10 tryouts.

More important than the final placement was the praise collected at the end of the dispute. " They complimented me a lot, said I'm doing great. I did well at almost every race. I really loved it ", said Miguel, who already knew some rivals personally, like Massa himself.

Following the boy's career from the beginning, the former Formula One driver has even played with Miguel's father by calling him "insane" for allowing the boy, still five, to fly Rok type karts and Rotax, the most powerful in the category.

The good result and praise confirmed what Sauber had already noticed in the Brazilian. Earlier in the year, Miguel was included in the team's youth driver academy, which now belongs to Alfa Romeo. " They help me a lot, provided me with a coach. I think I went to seven or eight races with them in Italy ", said the Brazilian, who dreams of the possibility of testing the simulator of Sauber headquarters. The next step will be to accompany a Formula One GP on the spot.

Entry to the academy is Miguel's first step towards fulfilling his dream of becoming a driver of the world's leading motorsport category. At the moment, his reference is the German Sebastian Vettel, but he also calls himself a fan of Brazilians Ayrton Senna, Massa, Rubinho and Emerson Fittipaldi.

Amid the pandemic, Miguel misses the races, still distant. But keep practicing on the simulator. Fifth grade student in the United States, now eagerly awaits the end of the school year next week. The motive? Spending all your time between kart tracks and simulator.

The good result and praise confirmed what Sauber had already noticed in the

Brazilian. Earlier in the year, Miguel was included in the team's youth driver academy, which now belongs to Alfa Romeo. " They help me a lot, provided me with a coach. I think I went to seven or eight races with them in Italy ", said the Brazilian, who dreams of the possibility of testing the simulator of Sauber headquarters. The next step will be to accompany a Formula One GP on the spot.

Entry to the academy is Miguel's first step towards fulfilling his dream of becoming a driver of the world's leading motorsport category. At the moment, his reference is the German Sebastian Vettel, but he also calls himself a fan of Brazilians Ayrton Senna, Massa, Rubinho and Emerson Fittipaldi.

Amid the pandemic, Miguel misses the races, still distant. But keep practicing on the simulator. Fifth grade student in the United States, now eagerly awaits the end of the school year next week. The motive? Spending all your time between kart tracks and simulator