Can the sport ever close the gender gap if the pool stays this thin? 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve says the shortage of women on today’s grid is simply a numbers problem.
Villeneuve noted the talent pool is tiny, so opportunities are scarce. For every thousand men, perhaps only one woman tries, making progress hard.
Chadwick pointed out that seat scarcity affects everyone, yet she welcomed the test as proof a woman can handle the car’s physical demands.
She added, champions from Formula 3 and Formula 2 also scramble for rides. It isn’t a gender issue alone; all drivers face a shortage of seats.
Jamie Chadwick – Williams
The test cemented that women are fully capable now and will be tomorrow. For my money, the next champion could be female, and as Jacques said, more entrants will eventually yield a female F3 and F2 champion, leading to a merit‑based F1 grid.
I’d love to claim it’s easy, but the car’s performance level is brutal. The neck strain was real, yet the feat proved possible, which is encouraging.
The 28‑year‑old British ambassador logged 32 laps at Portimão in Williams’ 2025 FW47. Will we soon see a female driver on an F1 grid?
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– The Team