Warrington teenager wants to inspire those with hidden disabilities to take up motorsports
It comes as Daniella Sutton's place is confirmed for the Wera Tools British F4 for 2026
A Warrington teenager diagnosed with arthritis as a child says it won't stop her from chasing her dream of becoming a Formula One driver.
Daniella Sutton was told she had Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, back in 2021, when she was just 12-years-old.
Now aged 17, she’s competed in the BRSCC Junior Championship and has officially announced she will be racing in the Wera Tools British F4 for 2026.
At the launch of Daniella Sutton’s FIA Formula 4 Race Car for the 2026 season, Daniella said: "It is a massive opportunity to be moving into British Formula Four.
"I'd say it's great to be moving into single-seaters because I'm definitely progressing up the Formula routes.
"It's like we're so close, we're nearly there. It's just pushing for that extra support to get me to that point."
Speaking on her diagnosis, Daniella said: "You question yourself, you question like, am I going to be able to do motorsport? Am I going to be able to race?
"It feels overwhelming at times but then you begin to see that you can do it and I think now being an advocate for people with hidden disabilities and ambassador for the Juvenile Arthritis Research Charity, it's just being there and proving that the 'impossible' is definitely very possible.
"I think it's so important to keep striving for my goals and keep proving that young people coming into the sport and people that have hidden disabilities or even people from working class backgrounds like myself, that anything is possible if you just work so hard at it and you keep that end goal in your mind."
Daniella believes sport is accessible for everybody: "Even those with disabilities, even women, men, children, everyone can get involved in sports, especially motorsport. There's a role for everyone in motorsport and you don't have to be the driver."
Daniella is excited to see what the next 12 months can bring: "I think my dreams for the next year would be to persevere within the Formula Four Championship and keep pushing at the end of next year, hopefully get my coaching licences as well so I can coach other people or coach people like myself and hopefully one day return back to the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Scholarship and be on the judging panel for that."