From fans to drivers, F1 is opening more doors for female involvement than ever before. Finally, the sport is entering a new era, and the future is looking bright. Can F1 become a truly inclusive sport?
Like myself, many girls’ loves for F1 was sparked when watching Grand Prix’s with their dad on the weekends. Today, along with the growing impact of social media, role models and Netflix shows ‘Drive to Survive’ and ‘F1: The Academy’, women have become as much a part of F1 as men.
Award winning docuseries ‘Drive to Survive, first released in 2019, has truly transfigured F1 culture. The show explains the workings of F1 in new ways, making the sport easier to understand yet all the while more exciting. Female fans were able to look beyond F1 as simply a motorsport and see it for so much more. A sport with driver dramas, team rivalries and technical race strategies, something new fans were previously unaware of. The impact of the show is undeniable, with 43% of UK viewers of ‘Drive to Survive’ being females. Ultimately, without the coverage that the show has provided, the growth we have seen today would’ve been impossible.
Resulting from Formula One’s growing online culture; social media communities have given female fans leverage to feel a part of the sport. While traditionalists disdain the use of social media in F1 as unserious, they fail to recognise the acceptance women now feel as integral to the growth of the sport. This new audience has seen the sport become revolutionised to new heights, and for such growth to continue, it is inherent social media’s presence remains strong.
Not only are fandoms thriving, but female drivers in motorsport also continue to make history, breaking the rigid walls that once sought to prevent their contribution. Leading pioneer Susie Wolff launched F1 Academy in 2023 as an all-female racing series. The Academy is designed to increase opportunities for women in motorsport, allowing women to progress to the highest standards. With the support of F1 teams such as Mercedes and Mclaren, women are given increasing latitude to drive better cars, collaborate with experienced engineers and simply be seen for their abilities.
With role models such as Bernie Collins, Naomi Schiff, Rachel Brookes, Natelie Pinkham paving the way for women in F1, women are finally taken seriously. As the number of women in the sport continues to flourish, Formula One is becoming a sport for all.
As Formula One remains to evolve, it is essential we recognise the importance of its female fan base. As we embrace this thrilling change, its fundamental to encourage all female participation, regardless of how they came to love the sport. The future is beaming with hope, with continued effort, F1 can become a truly comprehensive sport.