The future of women in F1: Will we See a female driver in formula 1 soon?

Formula 1 has always been a male-dominated sport. In over 70 years of competition, only two women—Maria Teresa de Filippis and Lella Lombardi—have ever started a Grand Prix. Others, like Divina Galica, Desiré Wilson, and Giovanna Amati, tried to qualify but never made it onto the grid. The last time a woman raced in F1 was 1976.
For nearly five decades, people have been asking the same question: when will we see another female driver in Formula 1? In the past, the answer always felt out of reach. The pipeline wasn’t there, the opportunities were scarce, and the sport never made it a priority. But now? Things are starting to change.
For years, female drivers have struggled to break through, not because of a lack of talent but because there simply hasn’t been a clear path to F1. That’s why the F1 Academy, launched in 2023, is such a big deal. It’s an all-female junior series designed to help young women get the experience and exposure they need to climb the ranks.

And it’s already producing promising names. Abbi Pulling, a 21-year-old British driver, dominated the 2023 F1 Academy season with nine wins and 14 podiums. That earned her a fully funded spot in GB3 for 2025, a crucial step toward reaching Formula 1. But Pulling has made it clear—she doesn’t want a handout. If she makes it to F1, it’ll be on merit, not as a token gesture. Then there’s Maya Weug, Ferrari’s first-ever female academy driver. She’s been steadily climbing the junior ranks, learning from the best, and pushing to prove she belongs. She’s spoken openly about studying Lewis Hamilton’s work ethic, trying to emulate the mindset that made him a seven-time world champion. (TalkSport)
The talent is there. The question is whether the sport will give them the opportunities they need to take the final step.
For the first time, it feels like the industry is serious about making this happen. Starting in 2024, every single Formula 1 team will have a driver competing in F1 Academy under their official name and livery. That means drivers like Pulling and Weug aren’t just fighting for exposure anymore—they’re representing Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, and the rest of the grid.
And people inside the sport believe it’s only a matter of time. Jessica Hawkins, Aston Martin’s F1 Academy head, predicts we’ll see a female driver in F1 within 4 to 8 years. That might still sound like a long wait, but compared to the last five decades? It’s real progress.
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Formula 1 isn’t going to hand out a free pass. Any woman who makes it to the grid will have to earn it the same way every other driver has—through performance, results, and relentless dedication. The good news? For the first time in years, there’s an actual path to get there.
If things continue moving in the right direction, the next big F1 rookie announcement might not just be about another young talent—it could be about history being made.