Jamie Chadwick Calls F1 Test Drive Career Highlight After Portimao Laps
· Sports · BBC Sport, Sportstar
Jamie Chadwick, a 28-year-old British racing driver and three-time W Series champion, described testing a Formula 1 car as the top item on her bucket list. She completed 32 laps at the Portimao circuit in Portugal, a track set to join the F1 calendar in 2027. Chadwick joined Williams as a development driver in 2019 and has since won all three seasons of the W Series and become the first female to win a road race in IndyCar's feeder series. She underwent simulator practice and intensive neck-strengthening training to prepare for the G-forces experienced in the F1 car. Chadwick is now one of 13 women to have driven an F1 car, following in the footsteps of pioneers like Maria Teresa de Filippis and Lella Lombardi. Her test was supported by Susie Wolff, managing director of F1 Academy, who cited Wolff as an inspiration for pursuing the opportunity.
Why it matters
Chadwick's achievement highlights progress in breaking gender barriers in motorsport, inspiring more women to pursue careers in Formula 1 and related series. Her experience underscores the physical demands of F1 driving and the importance of development pathways like the W Series and F1 Academy in increasing female participation.
Read the original report — BBC Sport
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