Jamie Chadwick - First competitive female driver in F1?
Discussion
rdjohn said:
A lot of PR has been generated for both Aston Martin and Hawkins.
The bit that is missing is comparative lap times. Quite why A-M are running a test with last year’s car at the Hungaroring also seems a bit odd. Presumably they are using publicity rubber rather than the quick stuff.
It looks like hype, a proper tyre test where times can be compared would give a representative idea as to where her talents really are and how soon we will see a woman competing in F1
Williams did the same with Susie Wolff when Toto had a shareholding. I think Davina Galicia’s record is likely to stand for some time yet.
From the pictures it was a ‘21 car she was driving, rather than a ‘22 car. I think they’re allowed to run the ‘21 on half-decent ‘historic’ tyres now - the ‘22 would definitely have to be on the show tyres, which can’t set a lap time becuase they’re too hard to generate any heat.The bit that is missing is comparative lap times. Quite why A-M are running a test with last year’s car at the Hungaroring also seems a bit odd. Presumably they are using publicity rubber rather than the quick stuff.
It looks like hype, a proper tyre test where times can be compared would give a representative idea as to where her talents really are and how soon we will see a woman competing in F1
Williams did the same with Susie Wolff when Toto had a shareholding. I think Davina Galicia’s record is likely to stand for some time yet.
Sadly, the days of a test team running anything like a representative current - or recent - car are long gone. The team will have simulation data though, as to what car X on tyres Y should be able to do with the regular driver in the seat.
Susie did actually get a run-out in a couple of P1 sessions, which must have been the best birthday present ever from her husband!
Individuals, unsurprisingly, will take whatever opportunity appears. Nothing wrong with that. Hats off to Chadwick for chasing a dream. Same goes to Hawkins.
Ultimately, you will only find the ceiling of your ability by walking the walk and risking it against the best. The internal Merc data on Mick S would be fascinating. It would be very interesting to see him step into the Merc for a race to see whether he's capable of more than the HAAS allowed him to show.
I admire anyone who is prepared to chase their dream regardless of detractors.
Ultimately, you will only find the ceiling of your ability by walking the walk and risking it against the best. The internal Merc data on Mick S would be fascinating. It would be very interesting to see him step into the Merc for a race to see whether he's capable of more than the HAAS allowed him to show.
I admire anyone who is prepared to chase their dream regardless of detractors.
Subject was covered quite well by the talent scout for Merc in Beyond the Grid podcast a couple of weeks back.
Don't think there is any doubt that one day we might be able to expect a female F1 driver. The current situation is purely a result of statistics.
He did list a couple of names in the pipeline to keep an eye out for in a few years time where she was getting very competitive results in Karting (name slips my memory). The promotion of the sport these days is only going to lead to more participants and there will be some cadence before we start to see that level surfacing to the top with same level of experience as you might expect of other prospect f1 drivers.
Hopefully we will see this come to fruition!
Don't think there is any doubt that one day we might be able to expect a female F1 driver. The current situation is purely a result of statistics.
He did list a couple of names in the pipeline to keep an eye out for in a few years time where she was getting very competitive results in Karting (name slips my memory). The promotion of the sport these days is only going to lead to more participants and there will be some cadence before we start to see that level surfacing to the top with same level of experience as you might expect of other prospect f1 drivers.
Hopefully we will see this come to fruition!
Peacockantony said:
She is arguably the weakest of all of William's academy drivers, when you have O'Sullivan, Colapinto & Browning at your disposal, why would you give such an opportunity to a driver that finishes at the rear of low end grids and isn't up to the standard of their other drivers?
Peacockantony is back posting on the single issue he's contributed to in the last year -- women in motorsport. Muzzer79 said:
....
It's a cliche, but it's the only way to get minorities, be that through race or sex, into top level sport by merit.
That's quite an assertion. In fact thinking about it, it's complete nonsense. Was Lewis inspired to become world champion by an affirmative action hire? Tiger Woods? Williams sisters? Jesus the list is endless...It's a cliche, but it's the only way to get minorities, be that through race or sex, into top level sport by merit.
pheonix478 said:
Muzzer79 said:
....
It's a cliche, but it's the only way to get minorities, be that through race or sex, into top level sport by merit.
That's quite an assertion. In fact thinking about it, it's complete nonsense. Was Lewis inspired to become world champion by an affirmative action hire? Tiger Woods? Williams sisters? Jesus the list is endless...It's a cliche, but it's the only way to get minorities, be that through race or sex, into top level sport by merit.
isaldiri said:
If women are regularly winning races in F2 or even F3 and never getting a chance at a F1 test then there might be case about lack of gender representation. until then, it's just marketing (with all it entails) to put one, Chadwick or otherwise who has been the most competitive of them, into a F1 car.
Exactly... any girl/lady who had even half the career trajectory through karts and single seaters of most of the F1 grid would be picked up by a top team in a heartbeat and bring a tidal wave of sponsorship with her. pheonix478 said:
Muzzer79 said:
....
It's a cliche, but it's the only way to get minorities, be that through race or sex, into top level sport by merit.
That's quite an assertion. In fact thinking about it, it's complete nonsense. Was Lewis inspired to become world champion by an affirmative action hire? Tiger Woods? Williams sisters? Jesus the list is endless...It's a cliche, but it's the only way to get minorities, be that through race or sex, into top level sport by merit.
Muzzer79 said:
They need that sign that it can be done, just as Hamilton has shown black people that it's possible to be the best there is.
Muzzer79 said:
Count the number of current top level black F1 drivers and golfers and then tell me if Lewis and Tiger are anomalies or part of a swell?
Your logic makes no sense. Firstly, if Hamilton didn't need to be shown a black F1 World Champion to himself realise he could become F1 World champion then the only data point we have shows that affirmative action is not needed. Secondly, now that we have had a legitimate black multiple F1 World Champion for 15 years (and PGA champion) where is this swell of black F1 talent as a result and if that didn't occur then why on earth do you think an affirmative action hire F1 driver would cause a swell of *whatever* minority interest? Clearly the barriers of entry into F1 (and to a lesser extent golf) are a LOT more than kids not having a similar looking roll model already at the top. Unless mum and dad can afford to bankroll your karting and junior single seat career for at least a few years you can pretty much forget it regardless of what you look like.Muzzer79 said:
I don’t see anyone forcing anyone into anything.
People are promoting what is possible, removing glass ceilings.
Will we end up with 50% of the grid being women? Very probably not, but women and other minorities need to be aware that it’s possible - that it truly is a meritocracy that doesn’t regard gender or race.
Who told you it's a meritocracy? It's about as far removed from that as it's possible to get.People are promoting what is possible, removing glass ceilings.
Will we end up with 50% of the grid being women? Very probably not, but women and other minorities need to be aware that it’s possible - that it truly is a meritocracy that doesn’t regard gender or race.
There's literally the son of a billionaire in there for no other reason than he's the son of a billionaire.
ChocolateFrog said:
Muzzer79 said:
I don’t see anyone forcing anyone into anything.
People are promoting what is possible, removing glass ceilings.
Will we end up with 50% of the grid being women? Very probably not, but women and other minorities need to be aware that it’s possible - that it truly is a meritocracy that doesn’t regard gender or race.
Who told you it's a meritocracy? It's about as far removed from that as it's possible to get.People are promoting what is possible, removing glass ceilings.
Will we end up with 50% of the grid being women? Very probably not, but women and other minorities need to be aware that it’s possible - that it truly is a meritocracy that doesn’t regard gender or race.
There's literally the son of a billionaire in there for no other reason than he's the son of a billionaire.
RB Will said:
It is a bit 50/50 with Stroll. He got there on merit winning F3 and F4 but likely wouldn’t still be there now if it were not for Dad
Dad probably did have a rather large helping hand in stacking those lower formulae teams with compliant drivers to help junior out though.....I think women are fully aware that there is a thing called motorsport, sadly the vast vast majority of them are not in the slightest interested in taking part in it.
That is not likely to change. You could argue that is also the case with certain races and ethnicities, however there are other factors to push there such as budgets, education and schooling family background.
I think a golden unicorn might happen, a Mouton type person or Tiger Woods type individual with drive and skill will emerge and that is what we are waiting for.
I think you have the potential for it in WEC with Dorian Pin and Iron Dames for sure, they are competitive with their peers some of which are full on professional drivers.
But as it is not linked to F1 via single seaters the media are not even slightly interested, also over here as they are not British they are not interested.
But believe me, nobody gives in inch in WEC, and these women are quick, sometimes winning and give as good as they get, right now they are the ONLY standard bearer for women in top level Motorsport and it is being utterly ignored by the vast majority of the Motorsport world.
That is not likely to change. You could argue that is also the case with certain races and ethnicities, however there are other factors to push there such as budgets, education and schooling family background.
I think a golden unicorn might happen, a Mouton type person or Tiger Woods type individual with drive and skill will emerge and that is what we are waiting for.
I think you have the potential for it in WEC with Dorian Pin and Iron Dames for sure, they are competitive with their peers some of which are full on professional drivers.
But as it is not linked to F1 via single seaters the media are not even slightly interested, also over here as they are not British they are not interested.
But believe me, nobody gives in inch in WEC, and these women are quick, sometimes winning and give as good as they get, right now they are the ONLY standard bearer for women in top level Motorsport and it is being utterly ignored by the vast majority of the Motorsport world.
flatlandsman said:
I think women are fully aware that there is a thing called motorsport, sadly the vast vast majority of them are not in the slightest interested in taking part in it.
I think that's the crux of it.I've been on the planet for almost five decades. During that time the number of women I've met who were into cars or motorsport has been vanishingly small. If females represent a relatively small percentage of motorsport personnel it's probably just a proportional reflection of the number of females who are interested in motorsport. Of course, females who are genuinely interested and have the talent to compete on merit should have the same opportunity to be there as males.
It's the same with music. I love electronic music. I've never been able to find a woman who was interested in it. They all love rock, grunge, guitar based music, etc., not geeky stuff made with synthesizers. Yet in electronic music circles I see the same conversations - that females are under-represented. No they aren't. The relative scarcity of females actively producing electronic music is a reflection of the relative scarcity of females who are interested in it.
The modern way of thinking is to confuse a lack of interest with a lack of opportunity and then start banging on about sexism and inequality.
Edited by MitchT on Wednesday 27th September 11:19
ChocolateFrog said:
Who told you it's a meritocracy? It's about as far removed from that as it's possible to get.
There's literally the son of a billionaire in there for no other reason than he's the son of a billionaire.
Could argue this one for eternity. Is Verstappen world champion on merit? Absolutely. Would he be world champion if his dad had worked in McDonalds? Almost certainly not. The route to the F1 grid is a mountain of money, the more of your own you can throw on it the easier it will be.There's literally the son of a billionaire in there for no other reason than he's the son of a billionaire.
520TORQUES said:
flatlandsman said:
I think women are fully aware that there is a thing called motorsport, sadly the vast vast majority of them are not in the slightest interested in taking part in it.
What's sad about that? Men and Women tend to have different interests. Always have, always will.Dirty, smelly, and expensive to keep running, we should ban horses.
520TORQUES said:
What's sad about that? Men and Women tend to have different interests. Always have, always will.
I think even that could be changing.We used to have a McLaren showroom in town. We had a then 19-year old boy staying with us. We had been karting together, so I assumed he would be interested in seeing the Mika West F1 car that they were displaying in the window.
On the way, we passed the Tesla garage and he was beside himself with what they had. He knew the specifications and their development program. No interest in the McLarens at all.
In contrast, my wife was always interested by the McLaren window display. They had to employ someone to remove the copious volumes of drool on their glass.
The lad is now running his own successful business and is driving a nice diesel estate car. He does not even aspire to a Tesla, just too much hassle when you live in Paris.
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