With the new Formula 1 season only a few days away, here are the top 3 women in Motorsport moments to look forward to this year.
Image credit: F1
1. The New F1 Academy
In November 2022, Formula 1 announced they would launch a new all-women driver’s series, F1 Academy, for the 2023 season. The F1 Academy is designed to prepare women drivers for higher levels of competition, such as Formula 3, Formula 2, and, ultimately, Formula 1. This initiative is unique because the series will consist of five teams run by current F2 and F3 teams—ART, Campos, Carlin, MP Motorsport, and Prema. Each team will enter three cars each, making up a 15-car grid. Drivers will participate in the first official testing session on April 11-12th at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The season begins in Spielberg, Austria, on April 28th.
Image Credit: F1
2. Sophia Flörsch to Race in F3
This season Sophia Flörsch will be returning to FIA Formula 3 with PHM Racing by Charouz. Flörsch previously raced in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2020 with Campos Racing, where she placed 29th. Since then, Flörsch has competed in Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship.
Flörsch will be the only woman on the grid this season, and we look forward to cheering her on!
3. Jamie Chadwick to Race for Indy NXT
Three-time W-Series champion Jamie Chadwick will be racing with Andretti Autosport for the upcoming Indy NXT season. She will be the first woman to compete full-time in the series in over 13 years and is the only woman on the grid for the 2023 season. Indy NXT is a feeder series for the IndyCar series, where Chadwick will gain hands-on experience competing against male drivers. Chadwick’s ultimate goal remains to reach Formula 1, and she has stated that she believes that Indy NXT will give her better opportunities to get there. Chadwick will also continue to work with Williams as part of the Williams Driver Academy.
Image Credit: F1
Honourable Mention: The Return of the W-Series
While there has been no news yet regarding the future of the W-Series, we are certainly holding out hope for its return for the 2023 season. In 2022, the W-Series season ended prematurely due to a lack of funding, and they announced they would focus on securing long-term fundraising to return even stronger for the 2023 season. However, the W-Series has been relatively quiet regarding their return, leaving fans to speculate if we will see them on the grid this season.
At only 22 years old, Sophia Flörsch has become a household name in the world of Motorsport. From a horrific crash in 2018 that made headlines around the globe to her relentless advocacy for women in Motorsport, Flörsch’s career is nothing short of inspirational. The German driver will be joining the F3 grid once again for the upcoming 2023 season.
Early Life and Career
Flörsch, born in Munich, Germany, began her racing career at four years old when she got behind the wheel of her first Kart. Shortly after, Flörsch rose through the ranks of Karting and won multiple championships before competing in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2015, where she took home a double win. After graduating from the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2016, Flörsch made her debut in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship, where Flörsch placed 19th and 13th consecutively before moving up to European Formula 3 in 2018. Flörsch placed an impressive P7 in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in 2019, leading her to move up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2020 with Campos Racing.
Image Credit: Alessio Morgese/Luca Rossini
The 2018 Macau Grand Prix
In 2018, Flörsch’s career took a deadly turn at the Macau Grand Prix when she collided with the back of Jehan Daruvala after the driver braked to slow down for the yellow flag. Flörsch’s car went airborne at 171.6 mph before crashing through the fencing into the photographer’s bunker. Flörsch miraculously survived the crash but suffered a spinal fracture. The driver was rushed to a local hospital in Macau, where she underwent an 11-hour surgery to repair the fracture. Two photographers and marshals were also injured in the crash.
Flörsch didn’t let this deter her from her dreams. Instead, the crash only strengthened her determination to come back stronger. “It was always clear to come back, to drive again, to race again, and to fight for my dream,” she stated. Only four months after the accident, Flörsch was back behind the wheel, pursuing her dreams more confidently than ever. “It was actually probably the hardest time knowing that I’m not able to drive, and that made me realize even more how important the sport is to me and kind of grew my confidence. If I’m in the car now, I enjoy it more, and I’m more thankful for what I’m able to do.” Flörsch was awarded the World Comeback of the Year Award at the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards, where she was celebrated for her resilience.
Flörsch’s Advocacy for Women in Motorsport
Throughout her career, Flörsch has advocated for women in Motorsport. The driver has been incredibly outspoken regarding the challenges women in this sport face compared to their male counterparts and has called for more support for female drivers. Flörsch is a proud ambassador for the FIA Girls on Track, an initiative to encourage young girls to pursue karting and provide them with the necessary opportunities to develop their skills.
Flörsch has also never been afraid to speak her mind regarding her criticisms surrounding representation in Motorsport. The driver has openly disapproved of the W-Series for segregating men and women, arguing that this is not how to help women in Motorsport. “It’s a marketing thing, and in my eyes, it’s not the way to help women in Motorsport. For me, racing in the W Series would be a step back on a sporting level,” the driver told Rheinische Post.
What’s Next?
Earlier this month, it was announced that Flörsch would return to the FIA Formula 3 Championship for the 2023 season with PHM Racing by Charouz. Flörsch stated that she is very excited about her return and looks forward to the challenges she will face this upcoming season.
“I am really excited and very happy to return to FIA Formula 3 this season with PHM Racing by Charouz. My goal has always been to race with the best of the best. Since the beginning of my career, I have been working very hard towards this goal every day with my team in the background.”
But that’s not all we will see from the driver this season. Flörsch will also be joining Alpine’s Race(H)er Programme, an initiative designed to increase diversity within the team. The programme will also provide the necessary resources to bridge the gap between men and women on the road to F1.
Image Credit: Alpine
From breaking barriers by becoming the first female F3 driver to overcoming the adversity from her 2018 crash, Sophia Flörsch is undeniably an inspiration to her fellow drivers and fans worldwide. Her resilience and determination have certainly contributed to her incredibly successful career. Still, they have also led to her being considered one of the most remarkable trailblazers for women in Motorsport. Watching Flörsch throughout her career has been a privilege, and I can’t wait to see where her career goes and what barriers she breaks down next.
Read more about the inspiring women in Motorsport here.
