Formula 1 needs female drivers - 2nd December 2024

Formula 1’s always been about the men, but now Formula 1 Academy wants to change this. F1 Academy’s a female-only motorsport competition, which was created in 2023. It’s for young women who are aged 16 to 25. They all drive the same kind of vehicle. This racing car develops their driving skills and prepares them for higher levels.

Most of the money comes from Formula 1 but the women still have to pay 100,000 euros to enter. One woman’s chosen by each F1 team to race for them.

McLaren’s selected Ella Lloyd, who’s from Wales. She’ll drive for the company in the 2025 season. Lloyd’s already got four top-three positions in the Formula 4 competition. These races include both men and women drivers.

F1 racing driver David Coulthard started More than Equal. The organisation did some research. It showed that racing was no more dangerous for women than men. It also found that most drivers learned their skills on go-karts.

Only 13 percent of go-kart drivers are girls. F1 Academy’s trying to include more girls at this level through its new Discover your Drive project.

Hollywood’s Reece Witherspoon wants to show what women drivers like Lloyd can do. She’s producing a Netflix documentary series about the F1 Academy.