Web-based research:
To start formulating ideas and get initial ideas about the subject I researched on google using a range of different sources, here are my findings:
I asked chatgpt to give me some questions about female racing drivers in the feeder series trying to get to F1 and as a result of its answer, here are some points to research I found:
The challenges:
unique challenges compared to male drivers
gender biases in Motorsport
pressures of sponsorship and financial backing required to progress through the feeder series
lack of representation and visibility within the feeder series compared to male counterparts
regulations and technical requirements impacting the participation and success of female drivers
The positives:
feeder series teams support and promote female drivers
advancements in technology and training programs helped female racing drivers bridge the gap in performance and competitiveness
initiatives or programs exist specifically aimed at encouraging and nurturing young female talent
the role of mentors and role models play in the development and success of female drivers
success stories of female drivers who have successfully transitioned from the feeder series to F1/other top series and what can be learned from their journeys
By establishing these points I can then research and base my work on this
More than Equal is a non-for-profit directly aimed at finding and developing the first female Formula 1 World Champion:
They've done a range of studies so I can use their research to support my secondary research.
Research conducted by More than Equal found that there are no physical or psychological barriers stopping women from competing in F1, however, the cost of competing is a major concern as investors and sponsors are often reluctant to back female drivers early in their careers, maybe due to a perceived lack of credibility. Female drivers also face persistent doubts over their ability to drive fast, no tailored training for women, less track time, fewer role models, and a culture of gender biases in Motorsport that is either 'unwelcoming or inappropriate' which may discourage female drivers who are already trying to overcome significant barriers and facing discrimination. One of the beauties of Motorsport is that a woman and man can compete on equal grounds, however, we don't see that due to discrimination and a lack of support, which is required in the feeder series to allow young drivers to compete. Female drivers tend to drop out within 1 to 5 years, whereas male driver's careers often last more than 12 years.
This study will help me understand the main problems and how they affect female drivers now, how it was in the past, and what changes may happen to improve the chances of female drivers making it to the top series in Motorsport as well as improving their experience on the feeder series ladder. Through my documentary, I want to help bring deserved visibility to female drivers and their talent as well as inspire other girls and women that they can do whatever they put their minds to. Just like More Thank Equal is aimed at, we don't want talented female drivers to be left behind because they are female.
The unique challenges female drivers face are less financial backing and sponsorship, no tailored training, less track time, fewer role models, constant doubt, and an unwelcoming, inappropriate culture in the sport. This is the sport many drivers love so much, however, due to these barriers many will be forced to stop because it is almost impossible for most when women should be able to compete on equal terms with men in Motorsport.
New advancements in technology and training programs, support and promotion for more feeder series teams as well as F1 teams themselves in F1 Academy, and with more role models and initiatives than ever, it is getting more encouraging that we may see women progress on the feeder series ladder, and one day see a woman back in F1 and competing in F1. There have been 5 women to enter a F1 Grand Prix only 2 qualifying for and starting a race and only Lella Lombardi got half a point. So what we want is not just to get a woman to drive in F1, but for women to have careers in F1 and win, one day hoping to see a woman take the World Championship.
The unique challenges:
Less funding and sponsorship-
No tailored training and the physiology of women-
Less track time-
Fewer role models-
Constant doubt and an unwelcoming culture-
The history of women in F1:
There have been 5 female drivers to enter an F1 race, only 2 to qualify and only 1 scored points. However, there have been quite a few test and development drivers. So here's a quick overview of the female drivers that have been in F1 and how they have impacted the sport:
Maria Teresa de Filippis (1958-1959):
The New York Times
The pioneer of the involvement of women in F1, she entered 5 races and started 3, her best result was 10th at the 1958 Belgian Grand Prix.
She was once denied involvement in the following race, claiming that the race director prevented her from taking part and told her "the only helmet a woman should wear is the one at the hairdressers".
From there she took part in the 1958 Portuguese and Italian races, and retired from racing in 1959 due to the tragic death of her team leader.
Lella Lombardi (1974-1976):
F1
Lella Lombardi became the second woman in F1, entering 17 races and starting 12.
Her best result came at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix where she finished 6th earning half a point, as less than half the race distance was completed.
She was and remains the only woman to ever score points in F1.
She spent the majority of her time in F1 with the March team.
She also raced briefly with RAM.
She was offered a one-off race for the Williams team at the United States Grand Prix, however was unable to start due to an ignition problem.
Divina Galica (1976):
FIA
Divina Galica tried to enter the British Grand Prix in 1976 but failed.
This was the only Grand Prix where multiple female drivers tried to enter.
Desire Wilson (1980):
Women Automotive Network
Desire Wilson failed to qualify for the 1980 British Grand Prix.
However, she became the first and only woman to win a Formula 1 race, but it was a non-championship event at Brands Hatch in the British Aurora F1 Championship on April 7th 1980, and as a result she has a grandstand at Brands Hatch named after her.
Despite it being a non-championship event, it proves women can compete at the same level as men and win.
Giovanna Amati (1992):
Motorsport Magazine
The last woman in an F1 Championship was Giovanna Amati, she entered 3 races and failed to qualify for them.
She was part of the Brabham team, and the lead driver of that team only managed to qualify once, the driver that would replaced Amati also failed to qualify for 6 or the 8 races he entered and after 11 races the team folded.
Test and Development drivers:
Sarah Fisher (Indycar) demonstration run with Mclaren 2002 after first practice for the US Grand Prix
Katherine Legge tested with Minardi in 2005
Most notably Susie Wolff was signed by Williams in 2012 as a test and development driver, becoming the first woman to take part in an F1 race weekend in 22 years when she participated in the first practice session at the British Grand Prix in 2014.
Maria de Villota was hired as a test driver for Marussia until her crash in 2012, and she died the following year as a result of her injuries.
Sauber signed Simona de Silvestro (Indycar) as an 'affiliated driver' in 2014, with the goal of having her compete in 2015.
Lotus signed Carmen Jorda in 2015 in a development role.
Tatiana Calderon was signed in 2017 as a development driver for Sauber, and was promoted to test driver in 2018, testing an F1 car for the first time in October of that year.
Triple-time W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick was signed by Williams in 2019 as a development driver and still remains with Williams in 2024, supported by them as she races in Indy NXT and she is now and F1 Academy Adviser.
The latest, in September 2023, Jessica Hawkins tested a 2021-spec Aston Martin F1 car at Hungaroring and has since delivered a demo run in Saudi Arabia, a first for women. She is the Head of F1 Academy and will race in British GT this year in an Aston Martin.
The Present:
F1 Academy
F1 Academy is an all-female single-seater racing championship, with its inaugural season in 2023, Marta Garcia was the driver's champion and Prema was the constructors' champion.
F1 Academy was not designed to segregate female and male racing drivers, but provide a platform where female drivers can improve, and address the extra challenges female drivers face compared to their male counterparts, such as funding and sponsorships, track time and role models.
A big announcement that happened last year was that all 10 F1 teams would support a driver in F1 Academy for 2024, and the other 5 drivers would be supported by prominent brands and all 7 of their rounds will be alongside F1. This show of support from F1 teams as well as drivers, shows that we are making steps closer to see women reach F1.
Some of the changes for the 2024 season are aiming to help drivers progress through the feeder series not just stay at F1 Academy. First of all, the champion Marta Garcia wasn't allowed to return, instead, she had a fully funded seat in Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), which is above F1 Academy a Formula 4 level series. There is also an age limit, 16-25, and now drivers cannot partake in F1 Academy for more than 2 seasons, encouraging drivers to progress on the feeder series. There will also be wild card entrants at certain events and there will be Super Licence points for the top 5 finishers. Wild card entrants will allow drivers who are not in the series to have a chance to race alongside F1 as a support act, possibly opening them up to more opportunities and potential sponsors. A certain amount of super licence points are needed for an F1 super licence, so this will allow drivers to progress through the feeder series quicker as they don't need to do more years to get points they can get these points in F1 Academy and progress up the feeder series, and hopefully we will see a woman in F1 again.
From this article which looks into the research done by More Than Equal and asks BTCC driver Jade Edwards about it. She says I don't necessarily think that it's male or female related, other than the fact that there's less of us to begin with.”
Many female drivers have shared the same concern that the issue is not about the amount of girls in the formulas but about the small amount in karting and that things must be done to inspire and motivate girls to start karting from a young age, by providing role models through F1 Academy aswell as opportunities through it and their initiatives like Discover your Drive.
Because of this I have realised that I have to address the issue of not enough female participation in karting and hope that my documentary can be a part of inspiring girls to pursue motorsport.
The research that More Than Equal did was the "most comprehensive study ever undertaken into women's participation in motorsports". It focused on four areas; stereotypes as barriers, culture and change, the role and impact of sponsorship and global participation of women and girls.
They conducted the research through their global attitude survey, one-on-one interviews with over 70 experts understanding existing relevant insight and their global driver aggregation program.
From the research they identified five key areas for change being more grassroots (karting) participation, more research, more recognition of cultural change, more support for young female drivers and more collaboration.
Gender participation and performance gaps were found. The gender participation gap is that only 10% of participation across all motorsport categories is female, 13% for karting, dropping to 7% in GT and Formulas. This is "depressingly low".
The gender performance gap is that women are not progressing as fast as their male counterparts, they currently represent 4% of the top levels of motorsport, but small growth in female participation has been noted.
FIA's Girls on Track and the British Women Racing Drivers Club (BWRDC) are two initiatives helping girls and women in motorsport,
Girls on Track has events, networking and opportunities to help women and young girls see and believe there is a rightful place for them in motorsports.
BWRDC was founded in 1962 by Mary Wheeler MBE who aimed to encourage and promote women in all forms of motorsport.
Study by Malmo University about female fans in F1:
I used this study to understand more about female fans and create a conclusion about how they affect the sport and how they could play a role in helping female racing drivers aswell and generating the next generation through more fan participation. I skimmed through the 58-page study and used these slides to help me, where I learnt about participatory culture:
Henry Jenkins Theory of participatory culture and social media (2016) emphasises the shift from passive consumption to active engagement, and whilst the study was done around media, the principles of it can be applied to sports:
Jenkins states participatory culture consists of a culture:
With low barriers to expression and engagement
Strong support for creating and sharing
Informal mentorship where most experienced teach novices
Members of a fanbase believe their contributions matter
A degree of social connection between members of a fanbase, a community
In sports terms what this is about fans not just watching, but getting involved creatively, through social media. A lot of female fans create content on social media, there are many female fans who have podcasts where they talk about motorsports.
What I believe is that when someone becomes a fan of a sport they may want to participate in it, and many want to work in the industry whether that be as an engineer or in media, but fans will be more encouraged to do so if they see someone like them working in the industry. So having female drivers on the screen will inspire more girls and women to follow their dreams in motorsport, as they see that they have a place there despite it being historically male-dominated. So I can refer to what fans can do to help female racing drivers succeed aswell as what the drivers can do in return for the fans.
The affect of social media on a racing driver's career:
Social media can impact an athlete's "contract value, endorsement chances and overall career success".
More fan engagement is beneficial.
Social media can help athletes to create their personal brand, increases awareness for them, more engaged fans in athletes and teams and can help young athletes get recruited as their talent and skills are viewable online.
Athletes and fans are closer than ever due to social media and athletes can share content with fans, can voice their thoughts and support causes and are massively influential through social media.
Athletes can control their own narratives through social media, so it can be good for publication and having a good public image and public relations.
Social media can also be a source of revenue for athletes, they can monetize posts, get sponsorships, commercial endorsements, and partnerships.
Athletes with a big social media following are will attract more sponsors and generate revenue, so this has an impact on recruitment of athletes, so sports organisations may be more influenced to hire someone with a big following aswell as skill.
This is a personal anecdote from someone who knows firsthand what its like to try and get sponsorships and how social media helps greatly with this, describing social media as "An Irreplaceable Tool In Today's Sponsorship Landscape".
"You can show fans and companies through genuine content how hard you are working"
"The more fans/followers you have, the more value you bring to a potential sponsor"
Work with brands who want to promote thinks, have partnerships, not necessarily sponsorships.
Doing social media promotion with companies may mean drivers don't need a regular job to support their racing but instead get the income they need from social media and can spend the rest of the time on track, training and improving their skills.
More followers means more opportunities.
You can promote your partners on social media , which "instills confidence and intrigues other brands that you might want to work with".
Top benefits:
Build a brand
Build a network
Build a fanbase
Additional source of income
Consumer insights
Expressing yourself and media practice
Showcasing partnerships
Film&TV:
To get inspiration for my documentary I watched a film:
Beyond Driven (2020) documentary:
I watched the Beyond Driven documentary as inspiration for my project. It tells the story of Lella Lombardi through animation, and secondly discusses W series the imitative during the time. It has interviews from Beitske Visser from W series, Giovanna Amati the last female driver to enter an F1 race, Patrizia Lombardi the niece of Lella and Tatiana Calderon, Formula 2 driver at the time. It has a unique mix of perspectives and showcases how Lella Lombardi broke barriers.
Youtube:
To find out more information about the subject aswell as find some clips that I could use in my documentary I went to Youtube and here are some things I found:
Different from other sports, motorsports is all about money. Karting costs can rise into the £10,000s. Even if you are talented you need around £100,000 a year just to get on track. The challenges facing female drivers are often shared with their male counterparts especially financially. Even in F1, drivers have to bring sponsorship to the team, the driver brings budget so it can be hard. The very lucky may get paid to race or have enough money from sponsorship, but most are constantly trying to find money to even get on track, they aren't getting paid to be there. Teams provide cars and equipment, drivers provide the money. The amount of talent, money and luck you need to make it to F1 is paramount, the reality can be hard.
Women get to their peak physicality in late 20s whereas men get to their peak in their early 20s, so it may take longer and we may see a woman enter older than male drivers would in F1.
Motorsport isn't segregated, its one of the 3 sports in the world that is not segregated, the sport is changing from being male-dominated and the fanbase is growing, with more young female becoming fans and they want to show that there are opportunities for women in motorsport.
F1 Academy has the support of F1's operational, broadcast and commercial machinery, so has a huge advantage over the past efforts to get female drivers into F1 like W series.
Finances have always and will always be an issue in motorsports, it costs a lot to get on track and that will never change, but F1 Academy gives drivers huge financial aid to give them possibility to progress.
The more time on track the more time to improve talent and talent is everything.
More support than ever for female racing drivers. More track time and development for female drivers in F1 Academy.
Teamsport have about 1.8 million drivers a year, about a third are female, only about 5% are female in their academy programs.
Karting is the purest form of motorsport and all the skills you need to drive pretty much any car are learnt in karts.
More focus on Karting is key to getting a female into F1, it may not be the women in F1 Academy who reach F1, but the kids who watch them on TV and get into karts, who in a few decades time will make it to F1, so F1 Academy inspires young generations to get involved in motorsport early on. Getting more girls into racing at an early age and keeping them on track as much as possible.
There is more participation recently of females racing, due to societal change, but whats still missing is accessibility, and F1 Academy can play a big role in that, global awareness for the young girls competing in karting, F1 Academy will nurture and develop talent and wants to be the bridge into single-seaters.
You need determination to be a racing driver and being a female you need even more as female drivers can face a lot of criticism.
Its going to take time, but if talent is nurtured and developed we will see women in f1, more investment, role models and opportunity is what F1 Academy is doing, its is not going to produce an F1 driver in the first season, but in the next few decades it will happen.
From watching this video I decided to focus on the issue of accessibility that female drivers face and also research the physiology in motorsport and consider that women may enter F1 at a later age.
Women make up only 10% of racers in all categories and only 13% in karting. There needs to be more girls in karting and then automatically there will be more progressing up the ladder.
Women are absolutely strong enough to drive in F1, the biggest issue is F3 and F2 with no power steering, the problem isn't F1 its getting to F1. Have to train harder and differently but its not a barrier they can break through.
Female drivers tend to drop out of motorsport within one to fuve years, whereas men's careers tend to last over 12 years.
Body strength is more important in F2 and F3, there is power steering in F1, neck strength is very important to cope with the high g-forces.
There are only 20 seats in F1, and it takes a lot of investment and wealth from a young age but also a cultural thing why we haven't seen a woman in F1 for decades. Performance, results and the support of F1 teams is what Sophia Floersch may need to reach F1.
The journey to the top:
Karting (5 or 6 seasons)-US$2,000,000 (equipment, crew, travel)
Formula 4- US$400,000-$700,000
Formula 3- US$1,000,000
Formula 2- US$3,000,000
Thats all above $6,000,000USD, and most drivers who spend that to reach that level will never make it to F1, where the big money is.
People don't trust or see the girls as credible so it makes it harder to receive sponsorship.
The more coverage and attention being a female driver hasn't translated into sponsorships, many have quit because they haven't got sponsorships.
If more women watch F1 there is a huge opportunity in marketing for female drivers. Social media plays a massive part in getting sponsorships. A big audience is of huge interest to many potential sponsors, e.g Lindsay Brewer.
If its a guy being last its fine, a girl she doesn't belong here. For a boy he made a mistake for a girl its because she's a girl she is last. These are the attitudes towards female racing drivers.
From this I realised how big the issue of sponsorship is and how much of a role marketing and social media plays in this, so I will research how social media is affecting the careers of female racing drivers and if it may be the key to seeing a woman get into F1, as they may get the sponsorships to help them fund progression.
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