Fast. Furious. Female! Women who blazed the F1 trail
In the male preserve of Formula One racing, the names and legacies of the handful of women who challenged the status quo stand out
In the glamorous, high-octane world of Formula One, a sport fuelled by speed, wealth, pride, and relentless competition, the roar of engines has long drowned out the voices of women. Since its inception in 1950, only five women have dared to enter the grid, each confronting a culture steeped in tradition and, often, exclusion. Their stories, marked by grit and ambition, typify what it takes to challenge the norms of one of the sporting world’s most exclusive arenas.
The Pioneers
In 1958, Maria Teresa de Filippis, a 32-year-old Italian with a defiant streak, rolled up to the Belgian Grand Prix in a Maserati 250F, becoming the first woman to compete in Formula One. Her journey had begun after a bet with her brothers, which sparked her passion for motor racing. The odds were stacked against her: the cars were unwieldy beasts, safety regulations were minimal, and sexism was rampant. A race director once told her, “The only helmet a woman should wear is one at the hairdresser’s.”
De Filippis’ debut season saw her finish tenth in Belgium, a feat that underscored her skill but failed to silence her critics. Her career was brief—five races over two seasons—but her impact was enduring.
“I was always too fast,” she would later recall, a remark that encapsulated her fearless approach to a sport that wasn’t ready for her.
A race director once told Maria Teresa De Filippis: “The only helmet a woman should wear is one at the hairdresser’s.”
Sixteen years later, another Italian, Maria Grazia “Lella” Lombardi, entered the scene and did what no woman before or since has managed: she scored points in an F1 World Championship race. The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, shortened after a crash that killed four spectators, saw Lombardi finish sixth, earning half a point. It was a minuscule number, but it resonated like a sonic boom in a sport that rarely saw women behind the wheel.
Lombardi’s path was anything but smooth. Her cars were often underpowered, her teams underfunded, and her opportunities limited. Still, she persevered, participating in 12 races over three seasons and proving herself on tracks dominated by giants like Niki Lauda and Emerson Fittipaldi.
Off the race track, Lella Lombardi broke barriers of a different kind, living openly as a lesbian
Off the track, Lombardi broke barriers of a different kind, living openly as a lesbian at a time when such openness was rare in any field, let alone one as hyper-masculine as motorsport.
The Challengers
Lella Lombardi wasn’t alone in her quest. In the mid-1970s, British skier-turned-racer Divina Galica tried her hand at F1. A three-time Olympic downhill skier, Galica brought the same fearless spirit to the racetrack. But despite her athleticism and determination, she failed to qualify for the three Grand Prix she entered. Still, her presence underscored the notion that women could be competitors in any arena, including motorsport.
Desiré Wilson, a South African driver, made history in 1980 as the only woman to win a race in a Formula One car. It wasn’t a World Championship race—it was part of the Aurora series—but her victory at Brands Hatch remains a landmark moment. Yet, like so many women in the sport, Wilson found the doors to the top-tier grid firmly shut.
Like so many women in motorsport racing, South African driver Desiré Wilson found the doors to the top-tier grid firmly shut
In 1992, Giovanna Amati became the last woman to attempt to qualify for an F1 race. Driving for Brabham, a team in decline, Amati faced the dual challenges of an uncompetitive car and a sceptical media. She failed to make the grid in three attempts, but her efforts highlighted the persistent barriers women faced in Formula One: systemic sexism, limited sponsorship, and a lack of competitive opportunities.
They drove against all odds
The obstacles these women encountered were as formidable as the tracks they raced on. Formula One has always been an unforgiving sport, where the margin for error is measured in milliseconds and where even the most talented drivers can be undone by subpar equipment. For women, the challenges were compounded by cultural and institutional biases.
Securing sponsorship, a lifeline in motorsport, was especially difficult for female drivers. Teams were reluctant to take risks on women, and sponsors balked at the idea of investing in them. Even when they did make it to the grid, female drivers often found themselves in underperforming cars, denied the tools to truly compete.
Even when they did make it to the grid, female drivers often found themselves in underperforming cars, denied the tools to truly compete
Then there was the physical and psychological toll. Formula One demands exceptional strength and endurance, and the constant need to prove themselves added an extra layer of pressure for women. Maria Teresa de Filippis retired after witnessing the deaths of several friends in the sport, including her mentor Luigi Musso.
Beyond the Finish Line
Today, the names de Filippis, Lombardi, Galica, Wilson, and Amati carry weight far beyond the record books. They are symbols of defiance in a sport that has historically resisted change. Their stories have inspired a new generation of female racers, from Danica Patrick in IndyCar to Susie Wolff, who became the first woman in 22 years to participate in an F1 weekend when she drove in a practice session in 2014.
Their struggles also fuelled initiatives like the W Series, an all-female racing championship launched in 2019 which folded after three seasons, and the F1 Academy, which aims to develop female talent in motorsport. They are steps toward a future where women in Formula One are no longer anomalies but equals.
The question remains: When will the next woman take her place on the F1 grid?
It’s a question of opportunity as much as talent, and the sport is slowly but surely moving toward an answer. But one thing is certain: when that moment comes, it will stand on the shoulders of the five women who dared to drive in Formula One and proved that the track has no gender.
It’s not just about the finish line—it’s about the drive.
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It is about drive, it is about power, we are hungry, and we devour.