The Life of Legacy

Pirelli

In a little over two weeks, F1 Academy’s third season comes to a cinematic close in Las Vegas. With brand activations and increased excitement over the grand finale, it is remarkable to see how far F1 Academy has come in just three years. There is no doubt about the accomplishments of this racing series, its drivers, and the individuals behind the scenes. Yet, to fully recognize how much has been achieved, it is essential to understand exactly how F1 Academy and women in motorsport came to be. 

While Formula 1 began in 1950, motorsport in general has its roots in late 19th-century France, when racing events started to gain popularity worldwide. During this early period of motorsport, women played a significant role and often found themselves more in the driver’s seat than on the sidelines, as wealth frequently played a more important role in racing than gender.

Unfortunately, as racing became more competitive and the speed of the cars increased, societal fears and stereotypes increased, leading to bans on female racers. Most of these bans were specific to the United States, as the American Automobile Association officially prohibited women from participating in racing events as of 1909. However, several places in Europe maintained a more progressive approach with multiple venues allowing women to race in special events, as well as the creation of organizations focused on providing a support network for female drivers. 

While these efforts helped lay the groundwork for future female drivers, they did not eliminate the consistent marginalization and male-dominated structure that motorsport had become. Even in today’s landscape, with all the increased opportunities, many women are still denied proper access to resources such as cars, sponsors, and training. Yet, despite the barrier placed in front of them, several women have persevered to overcome these challenges and worked to prove that all women belong in motorsport.

Regarding Formula 1, there have been five women who have participated in racing events throughout the sport’s history. While these women are pivotal to women’s motorsport and the eventual success of F1 Academy, it is equally important to discuss the pioneers of the sport, the first women ever to race. 

Some of the earliest female drivers are traced back to a trio of French women who redefined the racing world and began the journey for all women in motorsport. First, in 1889, Hélène Van Zuylen became one of the first women to compete in an international motorsport event when she participated in the Paris-Amsterdam-Paris Trail. 

Shortly after Van Zuylen made her debut, Camille du Gast, an animal rights activist and feminist, stepped into the racing scene. In 1901, she competed in the Paris-Berlin race, which was quickly followed by becoming the “first and only woman official for Automobile Club de France” in 1904. Completing the trio was the Duchess of Uzès, Anne de Rouchechouart de Hortemart, who, in 1926, founded the Automobile Club Feminin de France, which paved the way for female drivers up until the beginning of World War I. 

Alongside this trio of French women, there were many other trailblazing female drivers in various countries. Dorothy Levitt was the first British female racing driver, while Louise Smith was the first American lady of stock car racing. Yet, before the era of Formula 1, there was another driver who also proved that women could master the technical and physical demands of motorsport, despite prevailing gender norms.

Hellé Nice was a French model and dancer turned racer. Following a skiing accident, she set her sights on racing but was initially denied from entering a race at Brooklands in 1921 because she was a woman. Eight years later, the first Women’s Grand Prix was held, and Nice was the winner. Her performance demonstrated to many who watched that a woman could drive and perform just as well as a man. Nice’s determination and skill led her to gain a seat with the Bugatti Marque and become the only woman racing on a grand prix circuit for multiple seasons.

Almost 30 years after Nice’s attempted debut, Formula 1 was established, leading to only a select few receiving opportunities to compete over its 75-year history. While there are no restrictions preventing women from participating, the sport has had a long string of inadequate support for female drivers, which often includes blatant misogyny and a lack of resources. Yet, multiple women fought back to prove that female drivers deserved the same opportunities as men in motorsport. 

Born in Naples, Italy, in 1926, Maria Teresa de Filippis made her way into racing after her older brothers bet each other that she could not drive fast. With a determination to prove them wrong, she made her competitive debut in 1948, placing second in a local hill-climb race. Ten years later, she became the first female driver to compete in an F1 championship race. De Filipis had several highlights throughout her career, including the Belgian Grand Prix, where she secured a 19th-place qualification but went on to finish 10th. 

After de Filippis, there was no other woman on the starting grid until 1975, due to failed qualification attempts. Maria Garcia “Lella” Lombardi drove her family’s delivery van before entering the karting scene. From there, she competed in Formula Monza in 1965 and then moved on to the Italian F3 series before making her F1 debut in March 1975. While she had many pivotal moments in her racing career, including competing at Le Mans, Lella Lombardi is the first woman to score points in F1, a feat she accomplished at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Maria Teresa de Filipis and Lella Lombardi remain the only two women who have qualified and started in a Formula 1 race. While this fact may seem unfortunate, it does not detract from the efforts of women like Divina Galica, Desire Wilson, and Giovanna Amati, who all participated in  F1 weekends over the years in some capacity. 2014 marked the last time a woman took part in an F1 event, when Susie Wolff, current F1 Academy Managing Director, drove for Williams Racing in Free Practice at the British Grand Prix.

Through the efforts of these drivers, it sparked the conversation on including female drivers in Formula 1, as well as demonstrated a need for proper outlets for women’s racing that would lead to development. After many years of fighting to race, this opportunity came to fruition with F1 Academy’s pseudo-predecessor, the W Series.

In 2019, an all-female single-seater racing series was introduced with the aim of providing opportunities for female drivers. The W Series lasted for three seasons, with Jamie Chadwick winning all three championships, before it was discontinued due to financial issues. Yet, its short run demonstrated the importance of women in motorsport and the impact it had beyond the racing world.

The W Series gave several female drivers a second chance at their racing careers, providing them with the backing they needed to prove themselves. Alongside showcasing to the hundreds of young girls watching in the paddock that their dream of racing could become a reality, it also demonstrated the power of investing in women’s sports.

Alice Powell, a former W Series driver, noted that while the series failed due to financial issues, it did not fail in its mission.

“It has come to an end because of money but that does not mean it failed, because it has done a world of good in other areas,” said Powell. “It has inspired and opened doors for many people that weren’t just in the championship, young fans and young people aspiring to take part in every area of the sport.”

As noted by The Guardian, the W Series race that coincided with the 2021 British Grand Prix peaked at 1 million views, making it “the biggest live audience for motorsport other than F1 since 2014.” Through the W Series, the need for women’s motorsport was blatant, and within a year of the final W Series race, F1 Academy was born.

Not only does F1 Academy carry the legacy of the W Series, but it also honours the history of several women who battled barriers both on and off the track, giving the female drivers seen today the opportunity to race. Through these efforts, F1 Academy provides a genuine opportunity for these drivers to secure the resources needed to pursue a potential future in F1 or other racing series. From sponsorships to global exposure and the backing of Formula 1 teams, F1 Academy has worked hard to learn from the past and move forward towards a prosperous future.

Alongside F1 Academy, the efforts of those who came before have enabled the number of women in motorsport to increase in jobs outside of driving. From Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer at Red Bull Racing, to Laura Mueller becoming the first female racing engineer with Haas, to the several females who have climbed to Team Principal or executive roles, it demonstrates that everyone belongs in racing. 

Despite the innovation seen in motorsport, continual change and progression are needed. While there have been movements for women in motorsport thus far, it is not enough. Motorsport still remains a male-dominated landscape, and until complete access and opportunities are provided to all drivers, specifically women, then progression must occur. Until then, one can only hope that the world will see a female driver given the opportunity to race in Formula 1 in the near future.

To help support the future of women in motorsport, watch the season finale of F1 Academy from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23. For more information, visit: https://www.f1academy.com/.