Judah Du Bois (right) feels like he belongs on the racetrack and the young driver from Maui has his sights set on one day racing in Formula 1, the highest class of open-wheel racing in the world. Courtesy photo

Finding his passion at just 6 years old, Judah Du Bois has been chasing it with set goals, determination and heart.

With two years of competitive karting experience across Hawaii and the U.S. mainland, Du Bois feels most alive when he’s at the track surrounded by karts, the smell of rubber and the hum of engines. It’s more than a sport to him; the track is a place where he feels he belongs.

With dreams of one day becoming a Formula 1 racer, Du Bois said he is trying to focus on the road ahead, knowing that success in racing is built through consistency, discipline and the ability to turn setbacks into fuel for growth.

Du Bois said understands it’s the small daily habits that will help him stay on the right physical, mental and athletic track to reach his goal of becoming an Formula 1 racecar driver. Staying consistent, even in the smallest ways, is helping him maintain the health, happiness and mindset to chase such a big dream.

With a deep love for the process and a clear vision of where he wants to go, Du Bois could be on the fast track to something extraordinary.

Judah Du Bois lines up at K1 Circuit in Winchester, Calif., for his debut in the Junior Semi-Pro Series. Courtesy photo

Racing in the Rotax Owner-Karting division, Du Bois is providing his own kart and engine. He gets to experience speeds up to 150 kilometers per hour while building a level of competitiveness within himself.

Entering the world of kart racing is very technical, said Du Bois, who is responsible for the set up and maintenance of his kart, while he learns what it takes to win on the track. Making his Formula KFX debut in the Rotax Senior class, Du Bois ended the competition in fourth place — his highest ranking yet in a high level competition.

“Rental karts are fun for casual racing, but they’re usually slower, heavier and identical for everyone, so you can’t really fine-tune or improve performance,” Du Bois said. “With Rotax karting, every adjustment you make, from tire pressure to engine tuning, affects how fast you go.

For Du Bois, the challenge is what makes it so rewarding.

“The competition was seriously tough,” he said. “Everyone on track had way more experience than me, so to come away with a top-four finish right out of the gate was unreal. A lot of people at the event were genuinely surprised and impressed by how I held my own out there, especially being from Maui with limited racing opportunities here.”

According to Du Bois, watching F1 British racer Lewis Hamilton, a 105-time winner in F1 races, has inspired Du Bois, and he hopes to one day follow in Hamilton’s footsteps.

“Watching Lewis Hamilton and Formula 1 really inspired me to take it further and turn it into a real-life goal,” Du Bois said. “I want to become an F1 driver and show that even someone from a small island like Maui, can compete on the world stage.”

Formula 1 is widely considered the pinnacle of motorsports — the ultimate test of skill, strategy, and speed on a global stage. For many drivers, karting serves as a foundation in their journey by helping them learn the many demands of racing including strategic planning and an ability to react in split seconds.

“You don’t always have the perfect conditions or official competitions, so you have to make your own opportunities and push yourself constantly,” Du Bois said.

Judah Du Bois, shown here standing atop the podium during a photo shoot, is learning what it takes to compete on the racetrack. Courtesy photo