With F1 now entering its 75th year, Formula 1 remains one of the most male-dominated sports in the world since its inception in 1950. But did you know women have competed in F1 since the 1958 season? While their presence on the grid has been rare, these pioneering female drivers have made F1 history, defied expectations, and helped pave the way for future generations. But who are they? And what challenges have they faced in a sport where only five women have ever started a Grand Prix?
What to know?
- First woman to compete in a Formula 1 race: Maria Teresa de Filippis (first race entered: 1958 Monaco Grand Prix, first race contested: 1958 Belgian Grand Prix)
- First woman to score points: Lella Lombardi (1975 Spanish Grand Prix).
- First race with more than one woman entered: 1976 British Grand Prix (Lella Lombardi, Divina Galica).
Maria Teresa de Filippis broke new ground in 1958 when she became the first woman to enter a Formula 1 race. Since then, only four other women have made it to the Grand Prix stage, with Lella Lombardi holding the record for the most starts—12 in total. Incredibly, Desiré Wilson remains the only woman to win a Formula 1 race of any kind, triumphing in a non-Championship round of the 1980 British Aurora F1 Championship. But beyond the official race entries, many female drivers have played important roles as test and development drivers, helping develop F1 cars behind the scenes.
So, why have so few women raced in F1? Is motorsport finally opening up to greater female participation? With the rise of series like the F1 Academy, designed to nurture and develop female talent, are we about to see the next generation of women on the Grand Prix grid in the next five, ten or fifteen years as generational talents develop from karting and through the lower formula feeder series?
Are there any female F1 drivers?
Maria Teresa de Filippis made history as the first woman to enter a Grand Prix, and 34 years later, Giovanna Amati became the most recent female driver to do so. In 1992, Amati joined Brabham and attempted to qualify for three races, making her the fifth woman to enter the F1 World Championship, following in the footsteps of Maria Teresa de Filippis, Lella Lombardi, Davina Galica, and Desiré Wilson. More remarkable is that three of the five women were Italian drivers: de Filippis, Lombardi, and Amati.
| No. | Name | Seasons | Teams/Cars | Entries (starts) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maria Teresa de Filippis | 1958, 1959 | non-works Maserati, Behra-Porsche | 5 (3) | 0 |
| 2 | Lella Lombardi | 1974–1976 | March, RAM, Frank Williams Racing Cars | 17 (12) | 0.5 |
| 3 | Divina Galica | 1976, 1978 | non-works Surtees, Hesketh | 3 (0) | – |
| 4 | Desire Wilson | 1980 | non-works Williams | 1 (0) | – |
| 5 | Giovanna Amati | 1992 | Brabham | 3 (0) | – |
Maria Teresa de Fillippis
1958 – 1959: The First Woman in Formula 1
Maria Teresa de Filippis etched her name in F1 history as the first woman to compete in a Formula 1 race, making her Grand Prix debut at the 1958 Belgian Grand Prix. The Italian driver took part in five F1 race weekends, securing three race starts in an era when motorsport was overwhelmingly male-dominated. Though her time in F1 was short-lived, her drives paved the way for future female drivers in the sport.
Formula One World Championship Career
| Nationality | Italian |
|---|---|
| F1 Career | 1958–1959 |
| Teams | Behra-Porsche, Non-works Maserati |
| Entries | 5 (3 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1958 Monaco Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1959 Monaco Grand Prix |
De Filippis discovered her passion for motorsport in the late 1940s, despite scepticism from her family—her own brothers even placed bets that she wouldn’t be fast enough to succeed. At just 22 years old, she proved them wrong, winning her first race on a 10km stretch between Salerno and Cava de’ Tirreni. By 1954, she had climbed the ranks, finishing second in the Italian Sports Car Championship. This success caught the attention of Maserati, who signed her as a works driver, allowing her to compete in endurance racing before making the leap to Formula 1.
Her F1 debut, however, was not straightforward. In 1958, she attempted to qualify for the Monaco Grand Prix but missed out by 5.8 seconds in a crowded field of 31 entrants. Later that year, she secured her first official Grand Prix start in Belgium, qualifying 19th and finishing 10th—though she was lapped twice, she completed the race, something nine other drivers failed to do. Her time in the sport was met with resistance; she was infamously barred from racing in the French Grand Prix, with the race director reportedly telling her, “The only helmet a woman should wear is the one at the hairdresser’s.” Despite competing in a handful of other races, engine failures and discrimination tainted the remainder of her F1 career.
Following the tragic death of fellow driver Jean Behra in 1959, De Filippis retired from racing, stating she had lost too many friends in the sport. It wasn’t until 1979 that she returned to the motorsport world, joining the International Club of Former F1 Grand Prix Drivers, eventually becoming Vice-President in 1997. Her legacy as a trailblazer endured long after she left the cockpit, inspiring future generations of women in motorsport. Maria Teresa de Filippis passed away in 2016 at the age of 89, but her impact on Formula 1 remains unforgettable.
Lella Lombardi
1974 – 1976: The Only Woman to Score Points in Formula 1
Fifteen years after Maria Teresa de Filippis paved the way, Lella Lombardi became the second woman to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix—and to this day, she remains the only female driver to score points in an F1 race. At the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, Lombardi finished sixth, earning half a championship point after the race was cut short due to a fatal crash. Her achievement marked a historic milestone in the sport, proving that women could compete at the highest level of motorsport.
Formula One World Championship Career
| Nationality | Italian |
|---|---|
| Active years | 1974–1976 |
| Teams | March, RAM, Frank William Racing Cars |
| Entries | 17 (12 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0.5 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1974 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1976 Austrian Grand Prix |
Born in Italy, Lombardi’s passion for racing began behind the wheel of her family’s delivery van before she progressed through the ranks of karting, Formula Monza, Formula 3, and Formula 5000. In 1975, she signed with March Engineering, racing alongside Vittorio Brambilla and Hans-Joachim Stuck. That same year, she became the second woman ever to qualify for an F1 Grand Prix at the 1975 South African Grand Prix. Her standout moment came in Spain, where a tragic accident led to an early stoppage of the race—due to the shortened distance, all points were halved, leaving Lombardi with 0.5 points, a record that still stands for a female driver.
Beyond Formula 1, Lombardi had an impressive motorsport career. She finished seventh at the German Grand Prix, was offered a one-off Williams drive at the U.S. Grand Prix (but was unable to start), and continued competing in sports car racing, winning events like the 6 Hours of Pergusa and the 6 Hours of Vallelunga. She also competed in four 24 Hours of Le Mans races and even spent a season in NASCAR, racing alongside Janet Guthrie and Christine Beckers. After retiring in 1988, she founded her own racing team, Lombardi Autosport, before passing away from breast cancer in 1992 at the age of 50. Lombardi was also known for her personal life, living openly as a lesbian when such openness was rare in motorsport.
Formula One History Recommends
Divina Galica
1976 & 1978: From Olympic Skier to Formula 1 Driver
Few athletes can say they’ve competed at the highest level in two completely different sports, but Divina Galica is one of them. Before turning to motorsport, she was a four-time Winter Olympian, representing Team GB in alpine skiing and even captaining the squad at the 1968 and 1972 Winter Games. However, her passion for speed extended beyond the slopes, leading her to a second career in motorsport, where she climbed the ranks from karting to Formula 2 and eventually Formula 1.
Formula One World Championship Career
| Nationality | British |
|---|---|
| Active years | 1976, 1978 |
| Teams | non-works Surtees, Hesketh |
| Entries | 3 (0 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1976 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1978 Brazilian Grand Prix |
Galica made her first F1 attempt at the 1976 British Grand Prix, but unfortunately, she failed to qualify. Despite this, her entry was historic—it was the only Grand Prix in F1 history to feature more than one female driver, as Lella Lombardi was also competing that weekend. Her participation also placed her in a rare group, as she became one of only eight people ever to compete in both the Olympics and Formula 1.
Galica went on to make two more F1 entries, at the 1978 Argentine and Brazilian Grands Prix, but again failed to qualify. Beyond Formula 1, she raced in the Shellsport International Series and British Formula 1, though she never secured a race win. While her F1 career was brief, her remarkable journey from Olympic athlete to racing driver remains one of the most unique and inspiring stories in motorsport history.
Desire Wilson
1980: The Only Woman to Win an F1 Race
Desiré Wilson may have only entered one Formula 1 Grand Prix, attempting to qualify for the 1980 British Grand Prix, but she holds a unique place in motorsport history. She remains the only woman to win a variation of an F1 race, securing victory at the 1980 British Aurora F1 Championship round at Brands Hatch. Her achievement was so significant that a grandstand at the circuit was later named in her honour, cementing her legacy at one of Britain’s most iconic tracks.
Formula One World Championship Career
| Nationality | South African citizenship |
|---|---|
| Active years | 1980 |
| Teams | non-works Williams |
| Entries | 1 (0 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1980 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1980 British Grand Prix |
Beyond Formula 1, Wilson broke barriers in other top-tier motorsport series. She is the only woman ever to be licensed to drive in a CART IndyCar event, a series that ran until 2003. Additionally, she held a superlicence, which later became a mandatory requirement for F1 drivers in the 1990s.
Wilson’s success extended beyond single-seaters, as she also made history in endurance racing. In 1980, she became the first woman to win a World Championship race, triumphing in both the Monza 1000km and the Silverstone 6 Hours in the World Championship for Makes. Her ability to compete and win in elite motorsport categories set her apart, making her one of the most accomplished female drivers in racing history.
Giovanna Amati
1992: The Last Woman to Enter an F1 Race
Giovanna Amati holds the distinction of being the most recent woman to enter a Formula 1 race, with three Grand Prix entries in 1992. Her racing career began in Formula Abarth, before she progressed through Formula 3 and Formula 3000, establishing herself as a talented driver. However, when she reached Formula 1, her opportunity came under difficult circumstances, as she joined an already struggling Brabham F1 team.
Formula One World Championship Career
| Nationality | Italian |
|---|---|
| Active years | 1992 |
| Teams | Brabham |
| Entries | 3 (0 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1992 South African Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1992 Brazilian Grand Prix |
In 1992, Amati attempted to qualify for three races—the South African, Mexican, and Brazilian Grands Prix—but was unable to secure a spot on the grid. Ultimately, Brabham replaced her with Damon Hill, though he also failed to qualify in the next five races, highlighting the uncompetitive car. Despite her short-lived F1 stint, Amati remains one of only five women to ever enter a Formula 1 World Championship race.
After her time in F1, Amati continued to race successfully. In 1993, she won the Women’s European Championship, proving her ability in competitive motorsport. She later competed in the Ferrari Challenge from 1994 to 1996, further cementing her reputation as a skilled racer. Though her F1 career was brief, her journey remains an important chapter in the history of female drivers in Formula 1.
What is F1 Academy?
The road to Formula 1 has always been challenging, but for female drivers, the barriers have been even higher. In an effort to change that, Formula 1 launched the F1 Academy in 2023—a female-only, single-seater racing championship designed to develop and prepare women for higher levels of competition, such as Formula 2 and, ultimately, F1. But how does it work, and could this initiative finally lead to more women making it to the Grand Prix grid?
The F1 Academy features 15 drivers competing in cars run by teams from Formula 2 and Formula 3, ensuring they gain experience in competitive, high-performance machinery. Crucially, each of the ten Formula 1 teams now supports a driver, presenting a clear link between this initiative and the top tier of motorsport. The 2024 season held seven race weekends, with three races per event, making it a 21-race championship.
One of the most significant aspects of the F1 Academy is its financial backing from Formula One Management. The organisation subsidises each driver’s entry with €150,000 per season, helping to make the series more accessible compared to other junior single-seater categories. However, drivers must still match this amount, meaning funding remains challenging for some. Despite this, the F1 Academy represents a significant step towards breaking down barriers for female drivers, offering them a structured pathway to progress through motorsport ranks. But will it be enough to see more women competing at the highest level? Only time will tell.
Female participation in Formula 1 has historically been limited, with only a few women having served as test and development drivers. These roles, while not always leading to race seats, are crucial for car development and provide valuable experience within F1 teams. Below is an overview of notable female test and development drivers in Formula 1 history.
Female F1 test and development drivers
Female participation in Formula 1 has historically been limited. Only a few women raced, while others have served as test and development drivers. While not always leading to race seats, these roles are crucial for car development and provide valuable experience within F1 teams.
Susie Wolff
In 2012, Susie Wolff was appointed as a development driver for the Williams Formula One team, becoming one of the few women to secure a role within an F1 team in the modern era. Her responsibilities included simulator work and test sessions to support car development. In 2014, she made history by becoming the first woman in 22 years to participate in an official Formula 1 race weekend, taking part in free practice sessions at the British and German Grands Prix. Wolff continued in an expanded role in 2015 before announcing her retirement from competitive motorsport later that year.
Wolff’s pioneering work in motorsport did not end there. In 2016, she co-founded the non-profit organisation Dare to be Different, aimed at increasing female participation in motorsport by inspiring young girls to pursue careers in racing, engineering, and leadership roles within the industry. Her influence extended beyond grassroots initiatives, as she took on leadership positions in high-profile racing series.
In 2018, Wolff was appointed Team Principal of the Venturi Racing Formula E outfit, where she remained until 2022. Her leadership credentials earned her a role as Managing Director of F1 Academy in 2023, a category designed to develop and promote female racing drivers. Under her guidance, F1 Academy has seen significant expansion and investment, with all ten Formula 1 teams now backing a driver in the series. She is also the wife of Mercedes‘ team principal, Toto Wolff.
María de Villota
Spanish driver María de Villota joined the Marussia F1 Team as a test driver in 2012. Tragically, during a test session in July 2012, de Villota was involved in a serious accident that resulted in the loss of her right eye. She passed away in 2013 due to health complications related to the accident.
Tatiana Calderón
Colombian racer Tatiana Calderón was signed as a development driver by the Sauber F1 Team (later Alfa Romeo Racing) in 2017. She was promoted to test driver in 2018, participating in promotional events and test sessions.
Simona de Silvestro
Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro joined Sauber as an affiliated driver in 2014, with plans to prepare her for a potential race seat. She participated in testing and simulator work; however, sponsorship issues hindered her progression to a full-time race position.
Carmen Jordá
Spanish driver Carmen Jordá was appointed as a development driver for the Lotus F1 Team in 2015. Her role primarily focused on simulator work and promotional activities. Jordá’s appointment sparked discussions about the criteria for such roles and the pathways for women in motorsport.
Jamie Chadwick
British driver Jamie Chadwick, a three-time W Series champion, was associated with the Williams F1 Team as a development driver. Her role included simulator work and participating in team activities to gain experience within the F1 environment. Chadwick’s success in the W Series and her involvement with Williams made her a star figure advocating for greater female participation in motorsport.
Maya Weug
In 2021, Maya Weug became the first female driver to join the Ferrari Driver Academy after winning the FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars program. Her inclusion in such a prestigious program signified a growing commitment to nurturing female talent in motorsport.
Bianca Bustamante
Filipina driver Bianca Bustamante joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme in 2023, becoming the first female driver signed to this program. She went on to represent McLaren in the 2024 F1 Academy season with ART Grand Prix.
Abbi Pulling
After winning the F1 Academy title in 2024, British driver Abbi Pulling aimed to progress to higher tiers of motorsport. She joined Rodin Motorsport in Britain’s GB3 series in 2025 and became a part of the Alpine F1 team’s academy.
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