The W Series 2022 season was brought to an abrupt end late last month due to funding issues. A deal with a US investor collapsed, meaning the final races in Japan, USA and Mexico could not go ahead.
There was a desperate late plea from the series organisers for someone to step in and help save the final races of the year, however the news soon broke that all the focus was now on W Series finding new investors/sponsors to bring back the series next year in 2023. All hope was lost for 2022.
One person who is being very vocal about the loss of the series is 7 time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. He feels that F1 organisers and Liberty Media should have stepped in.
“There has not been enough focus on women in sport for the whole of Formula 1’s life. There is not enough emphasis on it now. They’re not magnifying enough the great work that is being done there.
“There is not enough representation across the board within our industry. There is not really a pathway for those young, amazing drivers to even get to Formula 1.
“Then you have some people who say: ‘We’re never going to see a female F1 driver’. That’s not a good narrative to be putting out. So, I think we need to be doing more.”
“With the organisation, with Formula 1 and Liberty doing so well, it was not a lot for them to be able to help out in that space.
“We need to be doing more to encourage young women.”
Lewis Hamilton on W Series disappointment
Its hard to argue with the logic. The series was growing more and more each race and the excitement building for the championship battle. We certainly had some great races that we enjoyed over the season. F1 lost one of its support races, which in turn means spectators at those events lost out on some great entertainment. Would someone have stepped in if it was an all male series?
With all the pledges and promises. Campaigns and programs put together over the last few years with the sole target of bringing in more diversity to the sport, I think liberty media and Formula 1 have definitely missed a beat.
Hamilton goes on to talk about his work with his team and the programmes they have put in place to increase the amount if women in all aspects of the sport.
“The work that I am trying to do with Mercedes, for example, trying to get 8000 young girls into the sport.
“Every team should be doing that.”
Lewis Hamilton