When Talent Isn't Enough: Alba Vázquez on Money, Mentality and Making It in Motorsport
For many young drivers, the dream is simple: race, improve and eventually reach the highest levels of motorsport. But in reality, the path is rarely that simple.
For Alba Vázquez, one of the biggest obstacles in her career has not been finding the speed. It has been finding the budget to keep racing.
At just 23, Alba has already made history, becoming the first woman to win a race in the Spanish Touring Car Championship. She has also competed in Supercars Endurance, where she led the championship for much of her debut season before finishing third overall.
Now, her ambitions are bigger: WEC and Le Mans. But when we asked what needs to happen for her to achieve that dream, her answer was remarkably straightforward:
“Getting the budget.”
When money decides who gets to continue
For Alba, the financial side of motorsport is one of the biggest barriers facing drivers today.
“Without a budget, you usually can't go anywhere,” she explained.
And she has seen first-hand how many talented drivers disappear from the sport because they simply cannot afford the next step.
“I know many drivers who have been left behind. There are drivers where I would say, ‘This guy could have made it to Formula 1. He has the level of a Formula 1 driver.’”
The problem doesn't necessarily disappear when a driver gets noticed. As Alba pointed out, even being part of a junior programme does not guarantee a career.
“Being signed by a Red Bull junior programme, McLaren or Ferrari doesn't necessarily mean anything... you still need a budget behind you.”
From karting to single-seaters and GT racing, the financial barrier can appear at every stage. This raises an uncomfortable question about meritocracy in motorsport: how many drivers never get the opportunity to prove how good they really are?
She also believes brands could play a bigger role.
Rather than seeing motorsport sponsorship simply as a logo on a car, Alba argues that a driver can offer a much broader marketing partnership throughout an entire season.
“This has to go much further than just putting a sticker on the car.”
For her, the conversation should be about building a strategy between the driver and the brand, content, events, hospitality and long-term exposure rather than simply buying advertising space.
Sometimes, she believes, the biggest problem is that the conversation never happens.
“They close the door too quickly.”
Instead, she believes brands should be willing to sit down with athletes, listen to their proposals and understand what a year-long partnership could offer.
The mental price of chasing the dream
The financial pressure is only one part of the equation.
Motorsport also demands an enormous amount mentally.
Alba's advice to her younger self says a lot about that.
If she could go back to the little girl who used to go to the circuits with her grandfather, she would tell her not to listen to people who say she cannot do it.
“Don't listen to what other people tell you, and don't be afraid of what other people tell you.”
She knows the numbers can be intimidating. She knows people will tell you how difficult the path is and how unlikely the dream may seem. But she also believes that trying is valuable regardless of the outcome.
Because along the way, you learn how to manage pressure, deal with disappointment and appreciate the moments when things finally go your way.
As Alba put it:
“You're going to learn so much about managing pressure, crying a lot, being really happy with the people you love, and celebrating it too.”
There is something important in that perspective. Mental strength in motorsport is not necessarily about never struggling. It can also mean learning how to live with the pressure that comes with chasing something that matters to you.
Max or Lando? Why Alba says both
That idea came up again when we asked Alba a slightly different question: would she rather have Max Verstappen's colder, more controlled mentality, or be more emotionally open like Lando Norris?
Her answer was simple: both.
For Alba, a driver needs to be able to stay cold and focused when it matters, especially when performance is on the line. But being able to understand and express what you are feeling is just as important.
The two things are not opposites. You can be mentally tough without shutting your emotions away. And perhaps that is one of the most interesting things about Alba's approach to racing: performance and emotion don't have to cancel each other out.
The dream is still there
Despite the challenges, Alba is not closing any doors.
She recently received an offer connected to NASCAR, although for now she prefers to continue developing her career in Europe. Her main goal remains the same: keep improving and eventually find her way to the WEC and Le Mans.
But once again, the obstacle comes back to the same place.
“If we stay here, the main thing right now is the budget.”
The talent is there. The ambition is there. The opportunities are there. What remains is finding the resources to turn those opportunities into reality. And perhaps that is what makes Alba Vázquez's story worth following.
Because in motorsport, talent may get you noticed, but sometimes, having the opportunity to prove that talent is the hardest part.
––
Written by Natalia Tautiva Vega
Comments