There are no formal regulations preventing women from competing in Formula 1 (F1), yet it has been several decades since we’ve seen a woman on the grid. No evidence suggests that women would suffer from physical limitations in F1, making it one of the only sports in the world where women and men can compete against one another without the former being at a disadvantage. Several women have not only competed in but have had incredibly successful careers in other motorsport series, so why do women face such difficulty when it comes to succeeding in F1?
Money
Formula 1 is one of the most expensive sports in the world. If an aspiring driver wishes to even come close to racing for F1, they must first fork over millions of dollars to climb their way up and secure a seat. While some drivers have the privilege of being financially supported by their familial wealth, many drivers receive the necessary funding through sponsors. However, the unfortunate reality is that these sponsorships are notoriously difficult to come by, especially if you are a woman. This leads to a vicious cycle of women lacking the necessary support to be successful, and as a result, sponsors are even less likely to supply them with funding.
Numbers
F1 is not only highly expensive but it is also extremely competitive, and numbers play a huge factor in why we don’t see women in the sport. Women are largely outnumbered in the world of motorsport, making the competition even greater. With junior teams only selecting a handful of drivers, the chance of a woman being chosen for one of these seats is near zero.
Representation
One of the reasons women are largely outnumbered in motorsport can partly be attributed to a lack of representation. When people see athletes that look like them and whom they can look up to, it proves that their dreams of becoming professional athletes are also possible. The lack of representation in F1 perpetuates the idea that it is a man’s world and women have no place being there. This discourages women from participating in the sport, as they feel they don’t have a place within the industry or lack the ability to succeed. It is safe to assume if there was greater representation on the grid, more young women would pursue a career in motorsport. We also can’t discuss the lack of representation within F1 without acknowledging the lack of diversity. Not only has the industry been dominated by men, but it has been dominated by white men. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is the only Black driver in the history of F1. This means women of colour are at an even greater disadvantage when it comes to succeeding in the sport. To bridge the gap between men and women, we need to acknowledge the importance of representation in the sport, as well as focus on creating a more inclusive environment for all.
F1 and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) have announced their commitment to creating a more inclusive environment and have introduced a variety of programs to help facilitate the success of women in the sport. These programs include Girls on Track and the W Series. Girls on Track is a program that was introduced in 2019 that aims at introducing young girls ages 8-18 to the possibilities of a career in motorsport. In the same year, the W series was introduced. The W Series is a woman-only championship that is free for drivers to enter and based on driver ability alone. The W Series aims to create equal opportunity for women, including eliminating the financial constraints that have held women back from succeeding in F1. There has already been speculation about certain W Series drivers and their transition into F1, such as Jamie Chadwick. With these initiatives in place and the commitment from F1 and the FIA to continue to strive towards a more diverse environment, here’s to hoping that we could start to see women on the grid within the next couple of years.