old vying to be a future F1 champion

The four year-old vying to be a future F1 champion A racing-mad four-year-old boy from Birmingham has only one goal - to become a Formula 1 world champion.

Raef takes lessons every week at MPH Karting Academy, Solihull, and is already lapping at speeds of 34mph.

And what better way for him to get his foot in the door, than by impressing one of the reserve drivers for the Mercedes F1 team, Frederik Vesti.

The pair met at the Daytona Karting Track, Tamworth, for a one-on-one session, with Vesti describing the pint-sized driver as "quite impressive."

Vesti, 22, started out when he was eight years old - a late bloomer compared to Raef.

"He's four years old, so he has got a big advantage on me," he said.

"He's already quite impressive and it's just cool to see.

"The next step is going racing against other kids of course, learning to pedal... try to overtake and defend, eventually winning his first race."

Raef described racing with Vesti as "fast", adding: "I wanted to overtake him."

"I want to be a Formula 1 driver and zoom and win the World Championships and all the races," he told the BBC.

So, how do you get a professional racing driver to take time out of their crazy schedule to drive with a four year-old?

Just ask, apparently.

The session came about after Raef's dad, Lionel, met Vesti at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the summer.

After finding out Raef was a Formula 1 fan, Vesti offered to go and see him in action, and the rest is history.

It is not just Mercedes' reserve driver on whom the four year-old has made an impression.

His coach, Harry Darby, said he thinks the young boy has what it takes to go all the way.

"The lap times never lie, and he's producing some extremely quick lap times, to the point where I'm having to do some practising to make sure that he doesn't beat me," he said.

"He's our fastest bambino driver that we've ever had in the last five years."

The racing does not stop when Raef is away from the track. He has a racing simulator at home to practice on when he is not physically in a kart.

His mum, Amardeep, said they make sure to strike the "perfect balance" between racing and giving Raef a normal childhood.

"He's so happy playing with his cousins, meeting with extended family and friends, play dates, going to the park," she said.

His father, Lionel, said there was plenty of encouragement in the family home.

"We work very hard at home as a family, all supporting him, pushing him to get faster, to get better, practise more," he said.

"Having Fred here was just wonderful.

"He's really passionate about motorsport and future generations, and hopefully Raef will be one of those kids to come through."

BBC Sounds