Aston Martin ambassador and former W Series driver Jessica Hawkins expects a woman to make her appearance in Formula 1 ‘within a few years.’ According to the Brit, an important role is reserved for the F1 Academy, the successor to the W Series. That racing class is intended to eventually produce talents who can compete for a seat in the premier class.
Hawkins, who in 2023 was the first woman in nearly five years to test a modern F1 car, made that prediction during a guest appearance on the Road to Success podcast. The Brit stepped into the Aston Martin AMR21 in Hungary and is convinced that it is only a matter of time before a woman actually participates in a Grand Prix. “I think it will take a few more years. But I do believe it will happen,” she explained. “I would be lying if I said I don’t think it will happen, because I really believe in it. If I said no, it would also go against everything I stand for.”
According to Hawkins, physical strength is not an insurmountable obstacle. “I am absolutely convinced that women are strong enough for Formula 1,” she emphasized. “I am convinced, after having driven half a race myself, that I could have driven a full race. My neck was certainly under strain. Really very heavy. But I think everyone who drives an F1 car for the first time experiences neck pain. That has nothing to do with the fact that I am a woman.”
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Potential of F1 Academy
Hawkins points out that before her F1 test she ‘was not active in Formula 2 or Formula 3,’ which, according to her, meant she missed the necessary preparation. “Even F1 drivers who return to the circuit for the first time after a year probably suffer from neck pain after a day of testing. Without those complaints, I could have driven a full race,” the Brit proudly assured.
That is precisely why Hawkins has great confidence in the F1 Academy. According to her, young women there get the opportunities that were lacking in the past. “It’s so different now,” she continued. “When I look at the F1 Academy now, I think: ‘Wow.’ At my age, I could only have dreamed of that. Some of them probably don’t realize how things were a few years ago. I think the championship really has the potential to develop drivers. Some start and immediately fall off, but others hold their own impressively. They are good enough to move up to Formula 1 and fight for opportunities within motorsport.”
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