Essential Items for Long-Haul Flight Traveling, as Listed by a 19-Year-Old Race-Car Driver Moving from Shanghai to Montréal

Whittle Away the Track:

Meet 19-year-old Canadian race-car aficionado Nicole Havrda, who's spent the better part of the last seven years navigating circuits and leaving competitors in her dust. With a career that ignited when she was barely a teenager, this whirlwind racer has climbed through the ranks, reaching an exciting milestone in 2025 when she joined F1 Academy. F1 Academy, a series launched in 2023, was created to propel change in motorsport and support the aspirations of burgeoning women drivers - right in the driver's seat are idols such as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

With her debut season headlined by American Express, Havrda is showcasing women-owned small businesses along the way. Ahead of her home race, the Canadian Grand Prix, we had the chance to chat with Havrda about packing tips, career aspirations, and the essentials she can't leave home without. Read our conversation below and get the lowdown on her foolproof travel essentials - from Shanghai to Montréal, she's been nowhere but here and there this year.

What's your favorite/the most rewarding part about being a race-car driver?

Obviously, winning! And seeing people out there who believe in me and making my parents proud.

Your journey as a woman in motorsport was highlighted in the documentary "The Car Knows No Difference." Why was it important for you to share your experience in the sport with the public, and do you plan to continue being vocal about your experiences, especially now that you're in F1 Academy?

I really enjoyed sharing the behind-the-scenes elements of racing and showing what it's truly like, especially as a woman in motorsports. We've just started filming a second season of that documentary, and it will include my experience racing in F1 Academy.

Tell me about your experience so far in F1 Academy and partnering with American Express.

It's been an awesome experience partnering with Amex during this debut season in F1 Academy! I'm truly proud of our partnership's commitment to shining a light on local women-owned small businesses at every F1 Academy race this year. In Montréal, I was particularly excited to see my car adorned with a logo for MTLPilates, a Pilates studio here in the city. Throughout the season, I've been able to meet all of the small business owners I've teamed up with, and it's been incredibly rewarding. My team and I are dedicated to supporting women on and off the track.

With your career, you're obviously traveling a lot. How often do you travel, and what sorts of places are you traveling to on the F1 Academy schedule and beyond?

I've traveled a ton this season with F1 Academy! So far this year, I've been to China, Saudi Arabia, America, Canada, Europe, and the UK simply for the F1 Academy schedule. Almost every two weeks, I'm somewhere new!

Have you picked up any packing or traveling tips that you swear by?

I've discovered specific clothing brands that I bring every time, like Lululemon and On, and I make sure I only pack a certain amount of clothing for each race to prevent overpacking. For expediting my way through TSA, I always have just my helmet bag and backpack, making it quick and simple. Plus, in an effort to prioritize my health, I typically avoid going through airport scanners and aim for a pat-down whenever possible.

Havrda's International Travel Essentials

Beauty

Since Charlotte Tilbury is an official partner of F1 Academy (the brand's first-ever global sports sponsorship), it comes as no surprise that Havrda's pellit carry-on is jam-packed with Tilbury products - some even boasting viral status, like the Beautiful Skin Foundation and Hollywood Contour Wand. Also in the mix are the brand's mascara, blush, setting powder, and Setting Spray as well as her go-to Dyson styling tool.

Clothing

As an athlete and frequent flyer, Havrda spends most of her time in activewear pieces, preferring picks from Lululemon and On. Her wardrobe is dominated by On leggings and shorts, while Lululemon provides her sports bras, skirts, and leggings. She never departs for a trip without her Prada shades and sneakers - whether she's off to a track walk or race day, she's strapping on her On Clouds, and with any more formal events, pulling out a pair of heels.

Other Necessities

Now, on to the less glamorous but nonetheless vital items. "Oh my goodness, I would never go anywhere without a portable charger," Havrda says. Often carrying her Apple charger, she also brings her MacBook Pro along for the ride. "Between work and staying healthy during our constant travels, I always make sure to have allergy pills and vitamins close at hand." Specifically, she's always stocked up on Claritin allergy pills, creatine, electrolytes, vitamin D3, probiotics, and vitamin B12.

What are your long-term goals in motorsport?

Definitely to reach the pinnacle of racing - whether it's Formula 1, Indycar, or sports cars.

Eliza HuberSenior Fashion EditorEliza Huber is a New York-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend forecasting, brand expansion, and the intersection of fashion and sports. Joining our platform in 2021, she came from Refinery29 after earning a degree in business from the University of Iowa. She championed the columns Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear and profiled tastemakers like Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter, in addition covering topics such as the relationship between Formula One and fashion to top runway trends each season. When she's not working, Eliza can usually be found immersed in researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.

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Essential Items for Long-Haul Flight Traveling, as Listed by a 19-Year-Old Race-Car Driver Moving from Shanghai to Montréal