Formula 1 needs female drivers

Women are the driving force behind Formula 1 - 2nd December 2024

In a sport known for its bias towards male drivers, Formula 1's preparing for a new era. Keen to entice more women and young girls into the sport, it's providing much-needed inspiration and support both on and off the track.

To tackle this issue, in 2023 the F1 Academy introduced a championship exclusively for women aged 16 to 25. By insisting on identical cars, drivers would be able to hone their skills and therefore proceed to advanced levels, including F1 itself. Funded largely by F1, the Academy still insists on a contribution of 100,000 euros from all entrants. To incentivise would-be participants, each of the F1 teams nominate a female driver to represent them in competitions.

Welsh driver, Ella Lloyd, 19, has been given the unique experience of carrying their colours in the 2025 season by powerhouse, McLaren. With four podiums already under her belt in Formula 4, in which men and women compete equally, Lloyd doesn't shy away from the challenge. During a BBC interview, she insisted, "I've had quite a few podiums so there is no reason we can not be as good or even better."

Historically, five women have entered an F1 race, with merely two actually starting on the grid. But there's been a steady increase as far as test and development drivers, engineers and team captains are concerned. David Coulthard, 13-time grand prix winner, has helped women to claim the limelight by conducting valuable research. Research by More than Equal, a not-for-profit company he founded in 2023, discovered that although women in F1 face no physical or psychological barriers, it's at grassroots level where the disparity lies. Only 13 percent of go-karting-level drivers are female and yet that's where many racers acquire their driving proficiency. Consequently, F1 Academy's Discover your Drive initiative's focused on upping the percentage of girls at this entry point.

A documentary series by Hollywood's Reece Witherspoon is set to further highlight women in motorsport as it tracks the progress of girls like Lloyd in the F1 Academy. In Ella's words, "Seeing females compete, especially on the F1 weekend, is definitely going to make young females get into it."