Jamie Chadwick - First competitive female driver in F1?
Discussion
Leithen said:
732NM said:
Not that it needed any more proof, but her time in Indy NXT proved she wasn't good enough for the next level.
This year and her Indycar test proved exactly the opposite. What was shown was that she needed to be fitter and stronger. As I said last season, she needed to come into this one and win it or be close to be considered for the next level with the way some of the others and some of the rookies are driving. She was ultimately miles off and was within a few points of being the worst performer at her team.
I don't think the move to ELMS is a silly one either, regardless of the motives. A few have mentioned she'd probably be a pretty reliable driver in WEC at some point so if she does this and proves she can be on the pace for a long stint, that may be the ultimate destination and if she gets there/does well then that's nothing to be sniffed at.
She still also has a toe in at Formula-E albeit at a team that has 2 of the best drivers so barring an injury not sure if she'd get a route in there.
I follow Louis Foster who won IndyNXT, and Chadwick was his team mate last year, and I saw she was quick especially in practice and Qually.
Some bad luck and a few idiots, unfortunately, otherwise she would have finished well inside the top 5.
Seems drivers are queuing up to get in IndyCar with limited seats. Foster got a break, but most have to bring a lot of money and winning IndyNXT isn’t enough - Lundquist and Rasmussen both struggled to move up.
And then, of course, it needs to be a competitive team.
Some bad luck and a few idiots, unfortunately, otherwise she would have finished well inside the top 5.
Seems drivers are queuing up to get in IndyCar with limited seats. Foster got a break, but most have to bring a lot of money and winning IndyNXT isn’t enough - Lundquist and Rasmussen both struggled to move up.
And then, of course, it needs to be a competitive team.
The move to sports cars does two things.
It gives her experience at a young age of driving very quick sportscars, LMP2 initially and later on Hypercar, all she is doing is making more than one option available, being linked to a huge firm like Hyundai is very wise. Fair play to Hyundai too she has no experience really of prototypes and they have taken a punt.
I do think the Indycar thing is gone, I think she tested the car, and the whole thing went dead, Andretti her team are probably pushing into f1, she could potentially find a back door into F1 as a test driver or something there. And they are linked to Cadillac, can you really see a full Cadillac Hypercar and F1 thing at the same time, I personally cant
It gives her experience at a young age of driving very quick sportscars, LMP2 initially and later on Hypercar, all she is doing is making more than one option available, being linked to a huge firm like Hyundai is very wise. Fair play to Hyundai too she has no experience really of prototypes and they have taken a punt.
I do think the Indycar thing is gone, I think she tested the car, and the whole thing went dead, Andretti her team are probably pushing into f1, she could potentially find a back door into F1 as a test driver or something there. And they are linked to Cadillac, can you really see a full Cadillac Hypercar and F1 thing at the same time, I personally cant
IDEC's press release said:
"In the 2025 European Le Mans Series, IDEC SPORT will field two LMP2 cars: one dedicated to Genesis Magma Racing’s teams and another representing IDEC SPORT. Genesis Magma Racing has also announced its driver lineup: former Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant, British racer Jamie Chadwick, who have both tested with IDEC SPORT, and
young French Porsche Carrera Cup talent Mathys Jaubert."
It'll be interesting to see how those three drivers compare against each other.
I think it's a good career move for Jamie. Seems like an ideal opportunity to be considered for the Genesis WEC Hypercar team in 2026.
"In the 2025 European Le Mans Series, IDEC SPORT will field two LMP2 cars: one dedicated to Genesis Magma Racing’s teams and another representing IDEC SPORT. Genesis Magma Racing has also announced its driver lineup: former Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant, British racer Jamie Chadwick, who have both tested with IDEC SPORT, and
young French Porsche Carrera Cup talent Mathys Jaubert."
It'll be interesting to see how those three drivers compare against each other.
I think it's a good career move for Jamie. Seems like an ideal opportunity to be considered for the Genesis WEC Hypercar team in 2026.
Just heard this discussion on the Gabby Logan/Mark Chapman ‘Sports Agent’ Podcast.
Fell into it as I was listening to golfer Tommy Fleetwood - but thought Jamie’s comments about women in F1 and her role, were very sensible and articulately explained.
Her bit starts at about >>39 mins in….
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1W41BAPjb8NVjEYz4...
Fell into it as I was listening to golfer Tommy Fleetwood - but thought Jamie’s comments about women in F1 and her role, were very sensible and articulately explained.
Her bit starts at about >>39 mins in….
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1W41BAPjb8NVjEYz4...
bergclimber34 said:
The move to sports cars does two things.
It gives her experience at a young age of driving very quick sportscars, LMP2 initially and later on Hypercar, all she is doing is making more than one option available, being linked to a huge firm like Hyundai is very wise. Fair play to Hyundai too she has no experience really of prototypes and they have taken a punt.
I do think the Indycar thing is gone, I think she tested the car, and the whole thing went dead, Andretti her team are probably pushing into f1, she could potentially find a back door into F1 as a test driver or something there. And they are linked to Cadillac, can you really see a full Cadillac Hypercar and F1 thing at the same time, I personally cant
If the regs change and they bring in power steering then Indycar could be back on.. Maybe 2026?It gives her experience at a young age of driving very quick sportscars, LMP2 initially and later on Hypercar, all she is doing is making more than one option available, being linked to a huge firm like Hyundai is very wise. Fair play to Hyundai too she has no experience really of prototypes and they have taken a punt.
I do think the Indycar thing is gone, I think she tested the car, and the whole thing went dead, Andretti her team are probably pushing into f1, she could potentially find a back door into F1 as a test driver or something there. And they are linked to Cadillac, can you really see a full Cadillac Hypercar and F1 thing at the same time, I personally cant
As in most career choices ambition is a good thing but one needs to be realistic having tried something. Jamie is an excellent driver and has proved herself over the years. She can make an excellent career as a racing driver but it’s down to the categories that she chooses.
When I watch Channel Four GPs and she’s standing there alongside Coultard and Webber (who themselves are quite slight in build) she is small framed and that must be a problem with some categories of cars.
Sports cars can provide a good career particularly if you’re a factory driver. Historics can be another. There are a number of very rich individuals who own famous cars and if you’re regularly chosen to drive one of these you’re getting the publicity. Various BTCC drivers drive Historics at premium events and then go back to the day jobs.
When I watch Channel Four GPs and she’s standing there alongside Coultard and Webber (who themselves are quite slight in build) she is small framed and that must be a problem with some categories of cars.
Sports cars can provide a good career particularly if you’re a factory driver. Historics can be another. There are a number of very rich individuals who own famous cars and if you’re regularly chosen to drive one of these you’re getting the publicity. Various BTCC drivers drive Historics at premium events and then go back to the day jobs.
I personally do not think physical; ability has any bearing on this, if the cars are hard to drive, you become stronger, it is easily do able, it just takers some serious effort.
The Audi Quattro was a tricky and physic car to drive and Michelk was not a large powerful woman, but she found a way.
I simply think the offers were not there, she did not impress in the tests and WEC/IMSA is a better market for her, you can ear good money, network and make a lot of impression in both series.
The Audi Quattro was a tricky and physic car to drive and Michelk was not a large powerful woman, but she found a way.
I simply think the offers were not there, she did not impress in the tests and WEC/IMSA is a better market for her, you can ear good money, network and make a lot of impression in both series.
bergclimber34 said:
I personally do not think physical; ability has any bearing on this, if the cars are hard to drive, you become stronger, it is easily do able, it just takers some serious effort.
The Audi Quattro was a tricky and physic car to drive and Michelk was not a large powerful woman, but she found a way.
I simply think the offers were not there, she did not impress in the tests and WEC/IMSA is a better market for her, you can ear good money, network and make a lot of impression in both series.
I agreeThe Audi Quattro was a tricky and physic car to drive and Michelk was not a large powerful woman, but she found a way.
I simply think the offers were not there, she did not impress in the tests and WEC/IMSA is a better market for her, you can ear good money, network and make a lot of impression in both series.
Being small framed also has massive advantages especially for single seaters in terms of packaging etc.
It is all down to the funnel effect. I’m sure some boffin could tell you how many drivers you need to put in at the beginning to get one F1 driver.
Let’s keep it easy and say 10,000 every 5 years. So for every 10,000 drivers who start out karting or whatever one will be good enough for F1.
Now if only 500 of those are women then it’s going to take another 20years before we see one.
Crude maths and example but hopefully understandable.
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
Having a father who is a multi multii millionaire seems to be a prerequisite to getting into F1 these days as well.
It's not so much to get into F1 it's to get through the lower echelons to get noticed. Even beginner junior series for 14 year old are into six figures and top level karting is well into six figures.Too many dads trying to live their failed dream through their kids.
I have no issue with that, it is what keep[s the motorsport wheels turning, I try and turn a blind eye to the fairly obvious dodgy money everywhere in the sport at all levels.
The industry is supported by these silly men living their lives through their kids and it keeps thousands of people employed.
Unless they are Stroll rich they never make it to the to-p unless they deserve it, they might get there at the expense of talent which is sad.
Even in the fake racing world there is silly money, if I told you you could easily spend 150 grand on a sim rig, you would say I am crazy, but you can easily.
The industry is supported by these silly men living their lives through their kids and it keeps thousands of people employed.
Unless they are Stroll rich they never make it to the to-p unless they deserve it, they might get there at the expense of talent which is sad.
Even in the fake racing world there is silly money, if I told you you could easily spend 150 grand on a sim rig, you would say I am crazy, but you can easily.
bergclimber34 said:
I personally do not think physical; ability has any bearing on this, if the cars are hard to drive, you become stronger, it is easily do able, it just takers some serious effort.
The Audi Quattro was a tricky and physic car to drive and Michelk was not a large powerful woman, but she found a way.
I simply think the offers were not there, she did not impress in the tests and WEC/IMSA is a better market for her, you can ear good money, network and make a lot of impression in both series.
Interesting point those early group B Audi Quattro were awkward beasts here is a rare bit of film of a young Michelle Mouton testing the Quattro in Scotland .The Audi Quattro was a tricky and physic car to drive and Michelk was not a large powerful woman, but she found a way.
I simply think the offers were not there, she did not impress in the tests and WEC/IMSA is a better market for her, you can ear good money, network and make a lot of impression in both series.
I think it’s pretty incredible what she achieved in that car.
https://youtu.be/T4_bve2sf_U?si=2xerKLbWlISMKkKX
That was the British debut for the S1 I think, Michele had probably driven that car before for the factory team, but this car was being debuted I think. This was in the period when Rohrl was there and she was somewhat relegated to doing bit part drives, a shame.
But beyond compare really in terms of what she achieved in a very tough era for rallying, yes she had a good car, and she was perhaps not as fast as her team mates, but she was not far away. And unlike most modern women, there were no excuses.
But beyond compare really in terms of what she achieved in a very tough era for rallying, yes she had a good car, and she was perhaps not as fast as her team mates, but she was not far away. And unlike most modern women, there were no excuses.
Leithen said:
Hopefully she will get the opportunity to develop her skills fully, and who knows, F1 might ultimately await.
Lombardi was certainly not utterly crap. Bloody quick and fully deserved to be in F1.
Let down by what laterturned turned out to be a cracked chassis in her F1 March, but she got the blame at the time.Lombardi was certainly not utterly crap. Bloody quick and fully deserved to be in F1.
Logan Sargeant won't be Jamie's ELMS team mate this year. He's “stepping away from the sport to pursue further interests,” according to the IDEC Sport team.
Too bad, he'd have been an interesting benchmark for her.
https://www.autosport.com/elms/news/sargeant-steps...
Too bad, he'd have been an interesting benchmark for her.
https://www.autosport.com/elms/news/sargeant-steps...
I didn't want to take the SA GP thread off topic.
I've just finished watching yesterdays qualifying on SKY. How refreshing was it to have the punditry by Jamie and Bernie Collins? They both come from a position of great knowledge unlike some of the others. It's a pity that they don't use her (JC) more often
I've just finished watching yesterdays qualifying on SKY. How refreshing was it to have the punditry by Jamie and Bernie Collins? They both come from a position of great knowledge unlike some of the others. It's a pity that they don't use her (JC) more often
Roman Moroni said:
I didn't want to take the SA GP thread off topic.
I've just finished watching yesterdays qualifying on SKY. How refreshing was it to have the punditry by Jamie and Bernie Collins? They both come from a position of great knowledge unlike some of the others. It's a pity that they don't use her (JC) more often
She has got a full time drive, so its sort of understandable she cant be there every race.I've just finished watching yesterdays qualifying on SKY. How refreshing was it to have the punditry by Jamie and Bernie Collins? They both come from a position of great knowledge unlike some of the others. It's a pity that they don't use her (JC) more often
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