The women on track to racing in Formula 1

For decades, Formula 1 has been the pinnacle of motorsport. Yet, despite its global appeal and a storied history spanning over 70 years, one glaring statistic remains unchanged—no woman has started a Formula 1 Grand Prix since Lella Lombardi in 1976.

However, that long-standing barrier could soon be broken. With structured development programs, increasing support from teams, and a new wave of talented female racers rising through the ranks, the dream of seeing a woman on the F1 grid is no longer a distant hope but an achievable reality.

Few are more confident than Susie Wolff, the Managing Director of the F1 Academy, who told the BBC in December 2024, "I would definitely like to say within 10 years you'll see a woman starting a Formula 1 race."

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This optimism is built largely off the back of what she is seeing in the F1 Academy—an initiative designed specifically to nurture and promote female talent in motorsport.

The F1 Academy, launched in 2023, has provided a dedicated platform for young female drivers to develop their skills, gain visibility, and progress through the motorsport ladder. With major F1 teams now backing female drivers more than ever, the journey to F1 is becoming more structured and realistic.

As McLaren boss Zak Brown told BBC, the big change has been a shift in grassroots participants, and that is where the focus remains for most teams. "Just like in every other sport, just like in football, there are 10,000 that want to be Messi, so that's why we spend our time in esports and F1 Academy and grassroots."

"I think it's going to take time, the journey from karting to Formula 4 to Formula regional to Formula 3 to Formula 2... It's about a 10-year journey and we're kind of just getting started."

As the pipeline strengthens, it’s only a matter of time before a woman earns a full-time seat in a Grand Prix. Let's take a look at some of the women currently on track to making F1.

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The 21-year-old Brit has emerged as one of the brightest talents in the F1 Academy, clinching the series title with an impressive nine wins and 14 podiums, as reported by Formula 1. Her dominance has earned her a fully funded seat in the British GB3 Championship for 2025, which is a huge step towards her F1 dreams.

The Spanish sensation became the inaugural champion of the F1 Academy in 2023, a title that secured her a funded seat in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) for the following season. Garcia’s success has set her on a path to higher-tier competitions, and she remains one of the most likely candidates to break into F1 in the future.

At just 17 years old, Lia Block has already made waves in motorsport. She has recently joined the F1 Academy as part of Williams’ driver program, showcasing the increasing investment by F1 teams in female talent. With a strong social media presence and an impressive racing pedigree—being the daughter of rally legend Ken Block—her rise through the ranks is one to watch.

A three-time W Series champion, Jamie Chadwick has long been one of the most prominent figures in women’s motorsport. With experience in high-level single-seaters and ongoing support from Williams, Chadwick is tracking well for the sport's top tier.

The rising Filipino star has gained significant attention in the F1 Academy, racing for McLaren’s junior program. Bustamante has impressed with strong performances and is, by their own accounts, developing well within McLaren. Her rapid progress could see her advance through the motorsport ladder in the near future.

While the road to making Formula 1 is beyond difficult for any gender, the sport has never been more accessible for women drivers. Will one of these drivers be the one to make history?

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