Jessica Hawkins, ambassador of Aston Martin Racing and former W Series driver, is convinced that in the near future a woman will make her place on the Formula 1 grid. In this regard, she has defended the role of the F1 Academy as a key platform for developing talented drivers capable of competing at the highest level.
Hawkins, who was the first woman in nearly five years to test a Formula 1 car with the Aston Martin AMR21 in Hungary in 2023, spoke about the potential of a woman in recent years in an episode of the Road to Success podcast. When asked if she believed she would see a woman in F1 during her lifetime, she confidently replied: ‘I believe we are just a few years away from that. I am convinced it will happen, and if I said otherwise, I would be going against what I stand for.’
Hawkins also rejected the ideas that physical strength could be an obstacle for women in Formula 1 competition. Reflecting on her own experience, she shared that she felt some fatigue in her neck after completing half a distance race, but she attributes this feeling more to a recent lack of preparation in single-seaters than to biological factors. ‘I strongly believe that women are strong enough to compete in Formula 1,’ she added.
The 31-year-old driver emphasized the importance of the F1 Academy, which provides young drivers visibility and career opportunities that did not exist before. ‘If you look at the F1 Academy, it’s something I would have dreamed of having when I was your age. Many probably don’t even know what things were like a few years ago. I believe this championship can really shape some drivers,’ she commented.
Hawkins stressed that while some drivers may not adapt, those who succeed are the ones who will be prepared to fight for a place in Formula 1 and for opportunities within the motorsport world.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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