Matheus Leist
A versatile Brazilian driver who conquered the Road to Indy ladder, racing at the iconic Indianapolis 500 before shifting gears to sports car endurance events.
Born 1998 (age 28)·Brazilian racing driver·Birthday: September 8·Generation Z
Biography
Matheus Leist's career has been a transcontinental pursuit of speed. Hailing from Brazil, he cut his teeth in European Formula 3 before crossing the Atlantic to tackle the American open-wheel ladder. His success in Indy Lights, where he won races and challenged for the championship, earned him a coveted seat in the IndyCar Series. His time at the top level of American open-wheel racing was highlighted by the ultimate rite of passage: starting the Indianapolis 500. After his IndyCar chapter, Leist transitioned to sports car racing, joining the competitive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Here, he adapted his skills to endurance events, sharing a cockpit and managing traffic in multi-class racing. His path reflects the global and multifaceted nature of modern motorsport, where talent must adapt to different machines and disciplines to keep a career on track.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Matheus was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matheus Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Matheus's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Competed in the IndyCar Series for AJ Foyt Racing from 2018 to 2019.
- Started the 102nd and 103rd Indianapolis 500 races.
- Finished third in the 2017 Indy Lights championship, winning two races.
- Won the 2016 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with Carlin Motorsport.
Did You Know?
He is a passionate fan of the Brazilian soccer team Internacional.
His racing helmet design often features the Brazilian flag's colors of green and yellow.
He tested for the Formula One team Sauber in 2016 as part of his prize for winning the BRDC British F3 title.
“In racing, the stopwatch never lies; it's the only judge that matters.”
