Jamie Chadwick - First competitive female driver in F1?
Discussion
As to her performance in Asian F3, it's worth looking at her results race by race. The first half of the season was slow but the second half, and especially the last few races went very well indeed. Having learned how to perform in F3 spec machinery I'm sure she'll be much more competitive in a full season of F3.
Sandpit Steve said:
TheDeuce said:
It's good there has been a slim but steady stream of female drivers finding their way to F3. A shame none have been particularly successful thus far.
I would be interested to know how many male drivers sought entry to F3 in the recent years vs female. I'm talking about how many courted talent spotters, wrote letters to potential team driver programmes or sponsors, offered to part fund etc.
As it is we have no idea of the ratio. Is it that we haven't got fast female F3 drivers because of an inherent lack of ability, or is it because we've only had a handful ever get within sniffing distance vs several hundred male?
Yes, it would be interesting to get some numbers. Let’s start with the ratio of boys and girls with karting licences, entering regional and national championships, moving into cars in the established feeder series etc. then we can look at your criteria such as drivers marketing themselves for opportunities.I would be interested to know how many male drivers sought entry to F3 in the recent years vs female. I'm talking about how many courted talent spotters, wrote letters to potential team driver programmes or sponsors, offered to part fund etc.
As it is we have no idea of the ratio. Is it that we haven't got fast female F3 drivers because of an inherent lack of ability, or is it because we've only had a handful ever get within sniffing distance vs several hundred male?
The biggest issue, for both boys and girls, is as always getting sponsorship, and it’s notable that there’s still a few pay-drivers hanging around F1, it’s just that they now have to work their way up and do well in other championships. The likes of Stroll and Mazepin had thousands of hours in single seaters, they were testing their F3 cars and even F1 cars on hired tracks, as many of their competitors were hitting up sponsors and worrying about the cost of flights and hotels. Looking around the F3 and F2 grids, there’s an awful lot of familiar surnames there, so a good contact book is very important to getting on the grid in the first place.
There’s no easy solutions, but if WS can inspire a few more girls to turn up at their local kart track next season, and a few teenagers to apply for WS over the winter, then that’s a good thing.
The imbalance has been topical enough to give birth to an entire new female only series, yet at no point has the extent of the imbalance from day one been reported on and revealed. Shouldn't we have a starting figure for girls in karting if we're supposed to care about the chances of FW increasing those numbers?
Bo_apex said:
angrymoby said:
if women (well any minority really) dont feel like they belong or are welcome in F1 they wont gravitate towards it
it really is that simple ...but the solution is far from simple, or easy
It's also true that societies are not flat, but rather different groups enjoy a range of different interests & activities.it really is that simple ...but the solution is far from simple, or easy
Not everyone is interested about driving around in circles or passionate about bull§hit FIA regulations
C70R said:
Yet when the Silver Ferns (regularly) play matches against the NZ men's team behind closed doors, they invariably lose.
This would be easy to understand if we were talking about a contact sport, where physical 'dominance' was key to success. However, netball's rules specifically discourage contact - you can't "snatch" the ball from an opponent, and you need to stand 3ft away in defence.
Netball is a game of physical endurance/fitness and skill.
What does this tell us? Maybe nothing?
Maybe also that men are genetically (or culturally) better-suited to physically demanding sports (like F1)?
Men are generally taller and have longer arms?This would be easy to understand if we were talking about a contact sport, where physical 'dominance' was key to success. However, netball's rules specifically discourage contact - you can't "snatch" the ball from an opponent, and you need to stand 3ft away in defence.
Netball is a game of physical endurance/fitness and skill.
What does this tell us? Maybe nothing?
Maybe also that men are genetically (or culturally) better-suited to physically demanding sports (like F1)?
FourWheelDrift said:
I've posted this before, but we could have had a competitive female driver in F1 a few years ago - https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single...
Very sad 
From that same page:
Mr Tidy said:
I really can't see that happening somehow!
W Series seems to have been invented for PC reasons - anyone good enough would have had a better drive already.
Jamie has got a good foot in the door ar Williams.W Series seems to have been invented for PC reasons - anyone good enough would have had a better drive already.
It must be great to be a part of the F1 circus, a lot of SIM work, but still an awful long way to go.
Funny how I can remember Sophia Florsch’s name...but not many from the W series.
It’s good for THEIR publicity though.
Even she hasn’t got a good word for it.
Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 26th October 07:13
kambites said:
I think the argument behind FW was that getting some female drivers into the limelight would encourage more girls to take up karting and hence redress the balance in future generations. Whether it will work remains to be seen.
I think that it’s Liberty / FIA mantra now, to prove that ANYBODY can at least be involved in motorsport at some level.Obviously, they can’t all be drivers.
Milkyway said:
kambites said:
I think the argument behind FW was that getting some female drivers into the limelight would encourage more girls to take up karting and hence redress the balance in future generations. Whether it will work remains to be seen.
I think that it’s Liberty / FIA mantra now, to prove that ANYBODY can at least be involved in motorsport at some level.Obviously, they can’t all be drivers.
The great irony about progress, empowerment, and female racing drivers is the fact that there were far more before the war than today. They were generally pretty competitive as well. Brooklands was practically awash with eminent female drivers and there were several women driving in Grand Prix.
Of course, before the war, it was an even more privileged sport but we can’t go there!
Of course, before the war, it was an even more privileged sport but we can’t go there!
Edited by ettore on Tuesday 26th October 08:18
ettore said:
The great irony about progress, female empowerment, and female racing drivers is the fact that there were far more before the war than today. They were generally pretty competitive as well. Brooklands was practically awash with eminent female drivers and there were several women driving in Grand Prix.
Of course, before the war, it was an even more privileged sport but we can’t go there!
If there is a young girl with a Billionaire Daddy... she’ll do just fine.Of course, before the war, it was an even more privileged sport but we can’t go there!
Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 26th October 08:22
TheDeuce said:
Milkyway said:
kambites said:
I think the argument behind FW was that getting some female drivers into the limelight would encourage more girls to take up karting and hence redress the balance in future generations. Whether it will work remains to be seen.
I think that it’s Liberty / FIA mantra now, to prove that ANYBODY can at least be involved in motorsport at some level.Obviously, they can’t all be drivers.
( Don’t worry, she has got a singing career now anyway)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=37NEFksybeY
Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 26th October 08:32
Milkyway said:
Well... nearly everybody.
( Don’t worry, she has got a singing career now anyway)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=37NEFksybeY
Jesus, I hadn't seen that until just now. ...umm thanks...( Don’t worry, she has got a singing career now anyway)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=37NEFksybeY
Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 26th October 08:30
Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 26th October 08:31
Some of the comments...
Sandpit Steve said:
Milkyway said:
If there is a young girl with a Billionaire Daddy... she’ll do just fine.
Given how so many of today’s top drivers have family money behind them, it wouldn’t be surprising if the next woman in F1 has family wealth or connections backing her. Plus there are lots of male drivers who already have the 40 points who have no chance of an F1 drive. Look at Nyck de Vries, first in F2 in 2019 and 1st in Formula E in 20/21 that alone gives him 70 points. Or Oscar Piastri, first in Renault Eurocup in 2019 (18 Points), first in Formula 3 in 2020 (30 Points) and currently 1st in Formula 2 (40 Points if he wins).
If these female drivers were beating the male drivers, getting the required points and then still being unable to get drives in F1 then I agree there would be an issue. Coming 9th in Formula Regional European Championship with a single 3rd place podium in 23 races and then winning Formula W gives you an idea of the sort of caliber of driver there is in this series.
Milkyway said:
Sounds like Jamie will take her money & FIA licence points.
It will be interesting to see how Abbi Pulling does in a full season in 2022.
She was very impressive @ COTA... & a youngster too.
Alice will return, but....Mmmmmm
Watching one of the previous F1 race buid up on C4 where Alice was one of the presenters, I noticed she talked about mentoring Abbi. Her tone was almost like saying she is really too old to be able to progress but she can use her talent to nurture others who have the potential.It will be interesting to see how Abbi Pulling does in a full season in 2022.
She was very impressive @ COTA... & a youngster too.
Alice will return, but....Mmmmmm
Abbi really did impress in the W series in a similar way Max Verstappen did on his debut year in F1.
It's a chicken and egg situation. Women in motorsport do not have the skill compared to their male cohorts but that is not to say they don't have the talent. The difference being that the sponsorship focus has not been there for women to nurture that skill to bring it up to the same level of their male cohorts.
Take Abbi, if some organisation was to come along and provide the sort of support which Lewis got from Ron Dennis, she would have the resources to train up to the level of her male cohorts. Level that playing field and then we can compare.
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