Formula One have announced an all-female F1 academy racing series to help younger female drivers, find an extra route into the sport. This shortly after W series ended their season early due to financial difficulties.
The series will be on a similar level to formula 4 and will be a gateway for women to get into the higher formulas, F3, F2, and of course F1. The series will start in 2023 where 15 drivers will be in with a chance to take to the wheel. The aim is to help women with opportunities within the male dominated sport and with the last female F1 driver Lella Lombardi being in 1976, I think it’s about time we have this change.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to follow their dreams and achieve their potential and Formula 1 wants to ensure we are doing everything we can to create greater diversity and routes into this incredible sport”
“That is why I am delighted to announce the F1 Academy that will give young female drivers the best chance to fulfil their ambitions through a comprehensive programme that supports their racing careers and gives them everything they need to move into F3 and hopefully to F2 and then the pinnacle of Formula 1.”
“The more opportunity there is the better and this is designed to provide another route for the drivers to succeed.”
F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali
The news of this series first came to light during the US Grand Prix weekend, where it was said it will complement the W series.
The F1 Academy will have 5 teams all of whom will be run by current F2 and F3 teams and they will have three cars to make up a 15 car grid. The season will consist of 21 races in the calendar with seven three-race events.
F1 will also be providing £130,000 per driver and the races will need to match the same amount again to compete. The rest of the budget, however, will be provided by the teams competing. Compared to other series, this cost would be small, but will allow women from different backgrounds to compete.
Bruno Michel, who has run F3 and F2 will be overlooking the new series.
“I am very excited to launch this new category. Diversity is extremely important in motorsport, and with the F1 Academy we will prove that female drivers have what it takes to compete at high levels.
“I am absolutely convinced that if young women are given the same amount of experience as any other driver, they can successfully make their way through the pyramid. Our goal is to see female drivers on the F3 grid in the next two to three years, and for them to quickly challenge for points and podiums.
“The aim is to increase the field in the near future, because we hope that this category will inspire more young girls to compete in motorsport at the highest of levels.”
Bruno Michel
W series have also made a statement about this exciting new category and are welcoming it with open arms.
“W Series created the first platform for women in motorsport which has inspired young girls all around the world since our inaugural season in 2019. It is fantastic to see this grow as a result of our pioneering work.
“W Series welcomes any initiative which shares our ambition to provide more opportunities for women in motorsport,”
“Our objective from the start has always been to increase the talent pool of women racing drivers, and the addition of the F1 Academy as a feeder to W Series and other series is a further step in inspiring the next generation to progress up the motorsport ladder.”
There is no doubt that this category will inspire young women to take to the wheel in motorsport, and we look forward to seeing the racing and entertainment it provides, with a hope that once again, a woman will make their way into F1.