System 1 needs to create new all-female championship, debut 2023 doable

Beitske Visser of Netherlands and Sirin Racing (95) lead Marta Garcia of Spain and CortDAO W Series Team (19) during the W Series Round 6 race on October 02, 2022 in Singapore.

Clive Mason | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images

Formula 1 is planning to set up a new women’s racing series.

The championship – which would be destined for younger drivers aged 16-22 – is set to take place alongside the similarly all-female W Series, which has encountered financial difficulties and canceled its last three events in 2022.

It is believed that the series would form part of the Formula 2 and Formula 3 feeder pyramid and could come as early as 2023.

It is likely that between 12 and 15 riders will be at the start.

F1 would not confirm details of the series, but a spokesman said: “We are committed to providing women with the best possible opportunities to enter our sport and gain the skills and experience needed to rise to the top of F1 reach.”

The news comes after Lewis Hamilton criticized F1 for not providing more help to the W Series.

The W Series, which aims to infuse women into F1, was due to hold its penultimate round of the year in support of the United States GP this weekend, however fundraising issues meant they cut their season short prematurely.

Jamie Chadwick, Britain’s frontrunner, was crowned champion for the third time, holding her 100 per cent record in the Championship.

Hamilton told the media on Thursday he felt F1 should have done more to help the W Series.

“There isn’t enough broad-based representation within the industry,” Hamilton said.

“And there’s not really a way for these young, great drivers to even get into F1 and then there’s some people who say we’ll never see it [another] female F1 driver of all time. So this is not a good narrative to publish.

“So I think we have to do more, with the organization, with Formula 1 and freedom [Media, F1 owners] Since things are going so well, it’s not much for them to be able to help in this area.”

What does it take to become F1’s next driver?

It’s been 30 years since there was a woman in F1 and Sky Sports F1’s Danica Patrick and Jenson Button spoke on the subject during Friday’s practice build-up.

“I don’t know if it’s necessarily more about a show than a culture and accepting them and giving them a chance,” said Patrick, who is widely recognized as the most successful woman in American open-wheel racing history. Sports known is racing.

“I come from a unique position where I just rose through the ranks, I didn’t race in a women’s series, there wasn’t a female-oriented element.

“I’m a girl and I know that helped me get opportunities with sponsors, but that still came through the classic ranks, so to keep at it and make it to the top, that’s really important gets really good rides along the way and can show off your talent.

“So it really needs a culture of people owning teams that believe in them and give them a chance, even if it’s just a test, to see what they’re capable of.

“I think there are definitely sponsors who jump on board because there’s something unique about sponsoring a girl and they’re going to get a lot of exposure – but what it takes is belief and trust that they can make it all the way to the top.” will create .

“I don’t think it has to be a sponsor that doesn’t get to the very top, it’s a rider that has all the talent to get to the very top.

“There are a lot of men who don’t make it to the end, so they just have to be in the right place at the right time and given a good chance with a good car.

“I always knew in my heart that if I get the opportunity with a good car I can show them what I’m capable of and luckily it worked out for me and my career and it just has to happen.”

Button, the 2009 F1 World Champion, added: “I think I’ve never been a big fan of separating men and women in racing with the W series, but I also think it’s great for the young kids and young girls is to have a role model like Jamie Chadwick as a driver.

“If you look at youngsters, there’s a very small percentage of women who really want to go ahead and race and I think that’s because they can’t see it.”