The short version
- Jamie Chadwick completed thirty-two laps in a Formula 1 car at Portimao, describing the experience as the ultimate achievement of her racing career.
- The test underscored the extreme physical requirements of modern F1 vehicles, particularly regarding neck strength and G-force tolerance, which Chadwick compared to being beaten up.
- Despite recent progress including tests by other female drivers, no woman has started a Grand Prix in fifty years, with only two ever participating in a race.
Jamie Chadwick has completed a significant milestone in her motorsport career by testing a Formula 1 car at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. The twenty-eight-year-old British driver, who secured championships in all three seasons of the all-female W Series and became the first woman to win a road race in IndyCar’s feeder series, participated in thirty-two laps during the session. This event marks her entry into an exclusive group of women who have driven F1 machinery, adding to her previous role as a development driver for Williams starting in 2019.
Chadwick characterized the experience as the singular highlight of her professional journey, describing it as surreal and exceeding her expectations. She noted that the sensation of driving such a high-performance vehicle at a track known for its elevation changes provided an incredible feeling. To prepare for the test, she engaged in extensive simulator practice and underwent a rigorous physical conditioning program alongside current F1 drivers. This regimen included specialized neck strengthening exercises designed to withstand the extreme forces exerted on the body during acceleration and braking.
The physical toll of the session was substantial, with Chadwick emphasizing that the strength required for the neck is vastly greater than what is needed for other racing disciplines. She described the G-forces as aggressive, noting that her head would slam back against the headrest immediately upon exiting the pit lane. The intensity of the experience left her feeling physically battered the following morning, comparing the sensation to having been in a fight with heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson. Despite the discomfort, she maintained that the overall feeling was incredible.
This test occurs within a broader historical context where female participation in Formula 1 remains limited. There are now thirteen women who have driven an F1 car, but only five have officially entered a Grand Prix weekend. Of those, only two have actually taken part in a race. Maria Teresa de Filippis made history as the first woman to compete in 1958 at the Belgian Grand Prix, finishing tenth. It took fifteen years for another woman, Lella Lombardi, to enter an F1 car. Lombardi participated in seventeen Grands Prix and scored points at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, a feat that remains unmatched by any other female driver.
Progress has been slow but steady in recent decades. Susie Wolff made the first official female appearance in an F1 session in over twenty years when she drove a Williams car at the British Grand Prix in 2014. Wolff, who now manages the all-female F1 Academy series, has been instrumental in promoting women in motorsport and served as an inspiration for Chadwick’s ambition to test an F1 car. More recently, Doriane Pin, the 2025 F1 Academy champion, became the first woman to drive a Mercedes in April of this year.
Despite these advancements, no woman has started an F1 race since Lombardi fifty years ago. Chadwick expressed confidence that female drivers are capable of competing at the highest level but cautioned against setting arbitrary timelines for when this might happen. She believes that talent exists within the female driving community and that opportunities provided by teams like Williams could eventually lead to a race seat for a woman. However, she acknowledged the structural challenges inherent in the sport.
The barrier to entry is significant due to the limited number of available seats. With only twenty-two positions on the grid, competition is fierce even for top male drivers from feeder series like F2 and F3. When narrowing the focus to female drivers, the talent pool appears smaller, making it even more difficult to break through. Chadwick noted that many champions in lower categories do not secure F1 seats, highlighting the scarcity of opportunities.
Looking ahead, Chadwick remains optimistic about the future of women in Formula 1. She believes that current efforts to support female talent will lead to positive changes over time. The combination of increased visibility, dedicated development programs, and high-profile tests like her own at Portimao may gradually shift the landscape. While immediate breakthroughs are not guaranteed, the continued presence of women in testing and development roles suggests a slow but steady evolution in the sport’s demographics.
The Portimao circuit, which hosted Chadwick’s test, is scheduled to return to the F1 calendar in 2027. This timing aligns with ongoing discussions about diversity and inclusion within motorsport governance. As teams continue to evaluate driver performance and potential, the data gathered from these tests may play a role in future decisions. For now, Chadwick’s achievement stands as a testament to her skill and endurance, while also underscoring the long road ahead for gender parity in Formula 1 racing.
Sources behind this briefing
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- BBC News↗Chadwick says driving F1 car 'top of bucket list'
