Introducing the all-electric motorsport series - Formula E

Motorsport is forever evolving and recently, organisations have looked at taking a turn towards sustainability. Formula E is the all-electric series which has been working towards a cleaner future since its inception.

Running since 2014, this sport has taken to several street circuits in different cities across the world. Described as “the most competitive grid in motorsport”, Formula E has been providing fans with entertaining and competitive racing. 

While establishing itself within the world of motorsport, it’s also on a mission to provide opportunities for people to work in the industry and work towards a sustainable environment.

So let’s delve into what Formula E is really all about.

What is Formula E?

In 2024, Formula E is travelling to 10 different cities for 16 rounds of racing. The 11 teams are competing for the Constructors’ Championship and the Drivers’ Championship.

Meanwhile, the six battery providers: Jaguar, Porsche, Nissan, Stellantis and ERT (Electric Racing Technologies) are also battling it out for the newly-introduced Manufacturers’ Trophy. They collect points similarly to how the teams do in their championship. The winner will not only receive a trophy, but it will also receive a Winner’s Badge to display on helmets, cars and team apparel.

Formula E is currently in its Gen3 Era. Since its debut, the series has been developing new versions of the race cars to make the racing faster, more competitive and above all, sustainable. Compared to the Gen1 cars, these vehicles are equipped with a stronger battery giving out more power.

The Gen3 cars are lighter and smaller and are the most efficient challengers in motorsport. It comes as 40% of the energy is regenerated throughout the two powertrains - one in the rear and one at the front. In total, the car can give out 600kW with a top speed of 320km/h. The Gen3 car had also become the first formula car to have no hydraulic brakes.

Meanwhile, in Formula E there isn’t really any room for tyre strategy. Hankook provides the series with one compound which can be used in any weather. In Season 9, this tyre proved to work in extreme hot weather and in heavy rainfall. The lack of tyre compounds means that teams use less rubber and there’s less transportation too.

One aspect which makes Formula E very unique is the energy management. The teams rely on a good energy strategy and impeccable software to be competitive. Knowing when to implement attack mode - which gives the drivers an extra boost at a specific area of the circuit - and when to use more power than usual, can determine whether a driver ends up on the podium or finishes last.

Formula E is also known for its unique race weekend format. The E-Prix format is built over one or two days. The qualifying and race take place on the same day, which means that if it’s a two-day weekend format, there would be two rounds in a single city.

The qualifying format is quite authentic. First, the drivers try to get the fastest lap in the 10-minute group stages. The drivers are split depending on their positions in the Championship. The top four make it to the Quarter Finals. One driver goes up against another and tries to earn the fastest lap in a Dual. The winners make it to the Semi-Finals and compete in yet another Dual. The top two battle it out for pole position, with the fastest getting P1 on the grid for the race.

Who competes in it?

Formula E is gifted with some great talent from across the motorsport world. All together, the grid has valuable experience from Formula One, the World Endurance Championship, rally and more.

As such is Nyck De Vries, who this season made his return to Formula E with Mahindra after a stint in Formula One. The Dutchman drives alongside Edoardo Mortara, who joined the series in Season 4. De Vries added his name to the Formula E Wall of Champions in Season 7, when he won the title with Mercedes. He raced for three seasons with the team, before they pulled out of the championship in 2022 and McLaren took their spot for the following season. 

In their last season, Mercedes once again had a driver win the championship, this time with Stoffel Vandoorne. You might remember him from his Formula One days with McLaren. Season 9 was a historical season for Vandoorne, not only because he won the championship. He won it with just one first-place finish in the season, which was in Monaco. Other than that, the Belgian driver enjoyed six podium finishes which gave him enough points to finish the championship on top. He now drives for DS alongside two-time Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne.

Another talent which competed in Formula One is Sebastian Buemi. He’s had a taste of Formula One with Toro Rosso and competed in the World Endurance Championship, winning the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours. He’s been around in Formula E since it started and won the championship in Season 2. He’s a household name within the sport and is now racing for Envision Racing alongside Robin Frijns.

One more talent coming from the world of Formula One is Pascal Wehrlein, who was a great contestant for the Season 9 championship. In F1, he made his debut with Manor Racing in 2016. He earned the team’s only point that season with a tenth-place finish in Australia. He moved on to Sauber for 2017, before eventually going back to DTM. Now he finds himself at Porsche in Formula E and he’s become one to look out for. His teammate is Antonio Felix Da Costa, one of the most-experienced drivers in the series.

The grid is also made up of a few youngsters. You’re surely aware of Sergio Sette Camara and Dan Ticktum who represent ERT. Both drivers had their fair share of success in Formula 2 before they found themselves competing in Formula E. Another talent coming from F2 is Jake Hughes - who was also a simulator driver for Mercedes in F1. After being a test and reserve driver for the outlet’s Formula E team, the Brit decided to commit himself to McLaren and officially join the all-electric series. For this season, McLaren signed up Sam Bird making up an all-British line-up for the papayas.

There is a whole lot of talent in Formula E. Jaguar have an all-Kiwi line-up with Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans behind the wheel. Meanwhile, Maserati are taking the single-seater racing by storm with Maximilian Guenther and Jehan Daruvala. Current Formula E Champion Jake Dennis races for Andretti alongside Norman Nato. Then there’s Lucas Di Grassi and Nico Muller representing ABT while the two Nissan drivers - Sacha Fenestraz and Oliver Rowland - make up the rest of the grid.

Female representation in Formula E

There’s been some inspiring women on and off the track in Formula E. Susie Wolff is surely one of the names who made great strides for females in motorsport by her position of CEO at Venturi. She first became team principal and part-owner of Venturi for Season Six. It came after she retired from motorsport in 2015 and looked for yet another competitive challenge.

She was approached about the position while she was still driving for Williams in Formula One and didn’t really think at the time that Formula E was going to work. However, she surely changed her mind and recorded one of the most successful years for Venturi in Season 7, securing 146 points in the Teams’ Championship. That year, Wolff was promoted to CEO of the team, with Jerome D’Ambrosio taking over as Team Principal. Once the team was rebranded to Maserati for Season 9, Wolff left the sport and is now Managing Director of the F1 Academy.

As for drivers, Simona De Silvestro is one of the longest-serving female drivers in Formula E. She made her debut with Andretti at the end of Season 1, racing alongside Jean-Eric Vergne. De Silvestro kept her seat for the following season and became the only woman to score points in the series in Long Beach and Berlin. 

Meanwhile, Katherine Legge and Michela Cerruti both started the first-ever Formula E race in Beijing. Legge raced for Amlin Aguri while Cerruti started for Trulli.

Legge is now racing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and in IndyCar as a part-time driver. She holds the record for the fastest qualifying effort by a female driver in the Indy 500, which she set in 2023. She’s prepared to enter the iconic race once again this year with Dale Coyne Racing while being sponsored by make-up brand e.l.f. Meanwhile, Cerruti is now racing touring cars in the international series with Mulsanne Racing.

- by Catherine Micallef

2023 was a historic year for women in motorsport

More areas than ever in motorsport are filled with women who are excelling on and off the track. 2023 was a standout year for women on the track with the first season of F1 Academy, the Iron Dames securing their first win, Sophia Floersch scoring points in F3 and so many more notable moments for the history books.

F1 Academy

F1 Academy was launched in 2023, succeeding W Series as the only all-female single-seater championship and as a F1 feeder series, this new association with Formula 1 brought new exposure, allowing fresh audiences to enjoy the competition.

Susie Wolff was appointed the Managing Director in March of 2023 and has developed her ideas to support and improve the series.

Although the series was only broadcasted as highlights, it was announced later that year that the series would be fully broadcasted in 2024 and viewers have already been able to watch the first round live.

It was also announced that all ten F1 teams would support one driver in the series which meant the F1 liveries would also be seen in F1 Academy and the drivers would be apart of the F1 teams’ personal academies.

At the end of the year, the series crowned its first champion, Marta Garcia, who earned a fully-funded Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) drive for 2024.

Formula 3

Sophia Floersch raced in the FIA Formula 3 championship in 2023 and made history as she became the first-ever woman to score points in the series, taking seventh in the Feature Race at Spa-Francorchamps.

Floersch was confirmed to continue in F3 this year with Van Amersfoort Racing.

Indy NXT

Three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick headed to America after the series went into administration to take part in the Indycar support series, Indy NXT.

Chadwick claimed a total of five top 10 finishes with a season highlight of sixth at Portland International Raceway. She has remained with the Andretti team for another year.

World Endurance Championship

In the LMGTE Am class, the Iron Dames of Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting made history by becoming the first all-female team to claim victory at the Bahrain season finale.

The team also celebrated an earlier podium at Portimão and they secured second in the LMGTE AM standings.

Doriane Pin who is a part of the Iron Dames project became the first woman to stand on the WEC LMP2 podium at Sebring’s season opener with Prema Racing. She has since moved on to F1 Academy as the Mercedes driver.

Initiatives

In 2023, Girls on Track activities included visits to McLaren Formula E, Mercedes F1, a Mission44 collaborative event at Silverstone Museum, community days at Williams and Alpine F1 headquarters and an Extreme E activation in Scotland where 80 local schoolgirls completed motorsport exercises such as Batak, Pitstop challenge as well as learning about the championship’s sustainability credentials.

More Than Equal released their one-of-a-kind research about women in motorsport in their attempt of finding the first female Formula 1 driver in over 30 years.

Safety

Motorsport circuits put women’s safety on top of their priority lists in 2023 with Zandvoort leading the way with enhanced safety measures.

Overall safety measures were also looked at across many championships as a very hot Qatar GP put health and safety into question and multiple tragic deaths made people realize just how dangerous the sport can be.

The Highs and The Lows

Of course, with the high points there are low points and the 2023 year was no different.

Jessica Hawkins became the first female F1 test driver in five years when she drove 26 laps of the Hungaroring for Aston Martin but the announcement post comment section was filled with unnecessary and sexist comments.

In December, the FIA announced an investigation into a possible conflict of interest between a member of Formula One management and a F1 team principal who turned out to be Susie and Toto Wolff. The investigation lasted three days and a lot of uncertainty surrounded it, and Susie Wolff has since taken legal action again the sporting body.

While the investigation took place, the Managing Director was faced with online abuse and the media showed their double standards. In the majority of articles and posts the former racing driver was only referenced as Toto Wolff’s ‘wife’.

- by Lizzy Oxendale

F1 Academy: Round 1 done and many more to come

The 2024 F1 Academy season started with Round 1 in Saudi Arabia. Prema Racing driver Doriane Pin, who is supported by the Mercedes F1 team, dominated the weekend despite ending with a penalty.

Pin showcased exceptional pace during the Free Practice session and secured both pole positions at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

In race 1, Pin secured a dominant victory in her debut F1 Academy race, while Alpine’s Abbi Pulling clinched second place and the fastest lap bonus, fending off challenges from Maya Weug.

The race featured intense on-track battles, a Safety Car intervention and standout defensive manoeuvres from many of the drivers.

After the initial race, Lola Lovinfosse was penalised with a 10-second penalty for causing a collision on the last lap, this resulted in her drop to 8th place.

Doriane Pin initially concluded her debut weekend with a second win in Jeddah, leading Abbi Pulling and Maya Weug to finish in the same order for both races, but the French driver was penalized for taking the checkered flag twice and dropped to 9th place. Nerea Marti was promoted to the last podium position.

Early in the second race, Pin defended her position from Pulling, while further back, on-track battles saw Nerea Martí overtake Lola Lovinfosse and Chloe Chambers received a penalty for gaining an advantage off-track. A collision triggered the Safety Car, leading to a series of restarts where Pulling closely challenged Pin but couldn’t overtake.

As well as the penalty to Pin, Amna Al Qubaisi was penalised five seconds for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, and Lovinfosse faced a five-place grid penalty for the next race due to causing a collision.

With the races following the same points system as Formula 3, Formula 2, and Formula 1, Pulling leads the drivers’ championship and Prema Racing are the leading constructors goring forward.

Since the weekend Amna and Hamda Al-Qubaisi were named Yas Heat ambassadors for the series and Red Bull announced Ford Motor Company as title partner to the Red Bull Academy Programme for the 2024 Season.

With one round down the series will follow the F1 calendar for a further six rounds with the next race in Miami on the 3rd to the 5th May.

- by Lizzy Oxendale

Drive To Survive Review

Returning for its sixth season of behind-the-scenes action, this season took a deeper dive and gave viewers exclusive, intimate access into the lives of drivers, teams, and the politics involved in fighting for championship points.

The 10-episode season aired on the 23rd of February which was the last day of pre-season testing.

Drive To Survive has done wonders for F1’s popularity and expanding demographic, so the docuseries made by Box to Box Films is already filming the seventh season.

Females In Motorsport

Females In Motorsport research shows that women spoke for 3.1% of Season 6. Women totalled just under 14 minutes of speaking time out of a running time of seven and a half hours across the 10 episodes.

Across all 60 episodes of Drive to Survive, women have spoken for slightly over an hour in total. The organisation released that this is just 2.65% of the more than 39-hour run time.

This shows significant change as Season 5 only featured six minutes of women’s speaking time, just 1.5% of the total runtime.

In the newest season, Clair Williams appeared as a pundit alongside former INDYCAR driver and Sky Sports F1 presenter Danica Patrick.

Susie Wolff is one of the other women who feature in Season 6, she is named on screen as the director of F1 Academy and the only other women to be named on screen were Gertraud Steiner and Reyes Vasquez de Castro.

Episode-By-Episode Guide

Episode 1- Money Talks

This episode centred around Aston Martin and their aspirations for the 2023 season and more closely followed Lawrence Stoll’s reaction to son Lance Stroll’s bicycle accident that nearly left him unable to take part in the Bahrain Grand Prix, and the team’s impressive podium performances in the first races of the year.

Episode 2 - Fall from Grace

The second episode focused on how brutal and competitive Formula 1 can be with Nyck de Vries’s rookie campaign racing for AlphaTauri. Following an impressive drive for Williams the previous season while filling in for Alex Albon and scoring points at his F1 debut, the episode recalls his impressive racing history. However, a series of unsatisfactory results for bosses at Red Bull and AlphaTauri leaves De Vries replaced by Daniel Ricciardo mid-season following an impressive test lap at Silverstone after the British Grand Prix.

Episode 3 - Under Pressure

Episode 3 takes a closer look at the mid-season turnaround McLaren were able to achieve in 2023, it follows Norris as he questions the next step in his career and the episode culminates with a mid-season upgrade bringing an impressive performance jump for the team at Silverstone. A P2 and P4 finish to the home crowd is enough to prove to Norris that the team is on the right path and renewed his contract.

Episode 4 - The Last Chapter

The fourth episode shifts to focus the teams at the back of the grid, Haas and Williams Racing. In this episode, James Vowles is in focus as he takes up his new position managing the Williams team, the struggles faced by the new principal as he attempts to modernize and bring the team back into to the competition. This episode focuses on the improvement for Williams and a lack of pace and reliability for Haas which quickly switches things around and leads Haas into crisis as they sit last at the back of the grid.

Episode 5 - Civil War

“Civil War” centred on Alpine as personalities clashed within the team, with Pierre Gasly joining to complete the all-French lineup for the Enstone-based team. The episode takes a look through the history of both Esteban Ocon and Gasly, their relationship presents as pretty fractious at times and a potential issue for the team. With both drivers keen to be number one they collide following a race restart at the Australian GP, leaving the team without points which caused problems for principal Otmar Szafnauer.

Episode 6 - Leap of Faith

Episode 6 gives the fans an insight into the struggles of Mercedes and the inner-conflict Lewis Hamilton faced regarding his future with the team. Throughout the episode the performance of the Mercedes team is called into question while Toto Wolff fights to retain Hamilton. While Hamilton does eventually sign a new contract with the team, the recent news of the British driver moving to Ferrari in 2025 overshadows this.

Episode 7 - C’est la Vie

Episode 7 continues with the Alpine principal under pressure from bosses at the team following a turbulent start to the season. The earlier crash in Australia was followed by a double DNF at Silverstone and the two drivers colliding in Hungary. The team eventually made the move to drop their team principal mid-season, and it’s clear from what is shown that this was anything but a mutual agreement, with a visibly upset Szafnauer seen talking to others in the paddock following the news. The episode finishes with Gasly’s podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Episode 8 - Forza Ferrari

This episode shows the behind-the-scenes of Ferrari. It shows new principal Frédéric Vasseur and the pressures faced by the new boss and the team’s struggles in the opening races of the season. However, with an impressive qualifying in Monza and the only non-Red Bull win of the season in Singapore, hopes are high for the team moving into the new season.

Episode 9 - Three’s a Crowd

This episode picks up from Episode 2, with Daniel Ricciardo now in a seat at the Red Bull sister team however it doesn’t last long as during practice at the Dutch GP, the driver suffered a broken wrist that left him out of action and the team calling on Liam Lawson to take his place. The team are left with a potential dilemma over their lineup, with the teams not shy of the fact that AlphaTauri is there to nurture future Red Bull drivers. The episode finishes with a meeting between Christian Horner and Liam Lawson, where Horner assures the young Kiwi driver that his time will come.

Episode 10 - Red or Black

The final episode of the season brings the glamour of Vegas to our screens and the battle to P2 in the constructors between Mercedes and Ferrari. It is shown just how the damage Sainz sustained by a rogue drain cover affected his weekend, and potentially, vital points in the battle with Mercedes. The attention then turns to the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. In the end, Mercedes claim P2 in the constructors from Ferrari.

- by Lizzy Oxendale

Femininity and masculinity can coexist in motorsports

Do women have to let go of their feminine side in order to thrive in the world of motorsport?

The common misconception surrounding women in motorsport is that they have to be more like a man in order to do well.

Embracing femininity in motorsports had traditionally been seen as a disadvantage specifically by a certain collection of people who either believe that women do not have a place in motorsports to begin with or they must be more masculine.

Danica Patrick received backlash on social media due to comments she made on a F1 Juniors broadcast at the Hungarian GP.

“And at the end of the day, I think that the nature of the sport is masculine. It’s aggressive.”, Patrick said, “You have to, you know, handle the car – not only just the car because that’s skill, but the mindset that it takes to be really good is something that’s not normal in a feminine mind, a female mind.”

Stereotypically women have been seen as the ‘weaker sex’ and in a male dominated sport such as motorsport the view that women are too weak to take part in racing comes from this stereotypical view.

In recent times, female drivers have strived to break the expectation of having to be more masculine through make-up, either wearing makeup themselves or getting sponsored and having partnerships with brands.

F1 Academy announced on social media that they had entered into a sponsorship deal with Charlotte Tilbury, a high-end cosmetics brand.

The brand has designed one of the cars on the grid that will be driven by French driver Lola Lovinfosse of the Rodin Motorsport team.

The deal sees Charlotte Tilbury become the first female-founded beauty brand to partner with an F1 feeder series.

F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante has posted makeup tutorials on her YouTube channel and content creator and presenter Lissie Mackintosh has posted ‘get ready with me…’ videos to TikTok.

This can also be seen wider in sports with brands perfecting sport-specific makeup which had qualities that are needed by athletes such as water resistance.

This has allowed women to wear the makeup without having to worry about their athleticism getting in the way and has allowed a new era of female sports personalities to emerge.

Having pink as your favorite color, preferring dresses or wearing makeup will not make you a better or worse race car driver.

- by Lizzy Oxendale

Racing Pride and their need to Accelerate Pride

Racing Pride is an LGBTQ+ and allies member community who are either in, or are interested in, motorsport and the automotive industry and they aim to promote and champion inclusivity across the sport.

Founded in 2019, the group have worked together with large motorsport organisations to “unite motorsport as a whole to bring about significant and lasting change” and some of their partners include Alpine F1 team, Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin, both their F1 team and their road car group. 

The group have a “co-ordinated approach, embracing all elements within motorsport, and actively promoting, and supporting, LGBTQ+ participants.”

Racing Pride are always looking at new ways to promote their aims and to help the community and on the 2nd February, they organised and hosted Accelerate Pride, an event held at the British Motor Museum. 

The event was a conference and networking opportunity where partners, members, and invited industry guests discussed progress and challenges to LGBTQ+ inclusion and they shared ideas on how to continue to drive improvements across the sector.

I had the amazing opportunity to attend the event through Girls On Track UK and was able to speak to industry leading companies, meet new friends and gaze at a car or two. 

After graduating last year, I have been looking for any opportunity to network within motorsports as I wanted to gain more contacts and friends within the industry and Accelerate Pride was the best opportunity for me. 

Alongside the three panels that took place which had amazing industry experts, there were stalls that included Sheffield Formula Racing, a Formula Student team who won the 2023 Racing Pride Aston Martin Diversity and Inclusion Award, Team BRIT who brought an accessible motorsport simulator (which I did try but quickly found that simulator racing was not my strong suit) and Formula 1 car parts from Aston Martin and Alpine which attendees were free to touch and stare in amazement at. 

Stalls were also filled by Driven Minds and Motorsport UK and at the entrance to the event were cars from Aston Martin, Genesis, and Alpine and the Museum was open to the attendees. It was my first time at the Motor Museum, so I enjoyed looking around with my newfound friends at the amazing cars and displays.

The opening panel was hosted by Dr Kate Bancroft of King’s College London and addressed the topic ‘LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Automotive Industry: Progress & Challenges’ and featured Matthew Randall of Aston Martin Lagonda, Simon Branney of Genesis Motor UK, Wayne Bruce from Bentley Motors and Barrie Hewitt of Lotus Cars. 

The second panel was hosted by Formula One podcaster and Racing Pride ambassador Christian Hewgill which included Jessica Runicles of Motorsport UK, Anji Silva-Vadgama from Team BRIT, Will Jones of Sheffield Formula Racing, British endurance karting champion Jessica Alexander, and Laila Fadli Dokkali who is an MSc Motorsport Scholar with the Royal Academy of Engineering and Mission 44 partnership. 

The final panel which was again hosted by Hewgill explored the impact Racing Pride has made in the world of Formula One. The speakers were from three teams which have relationships with Racing Pride, the panel included Kerrie Sparling from BWT Alpine F1 Team, Matt Drew from Oracle Red Bull Racing and Carys Conlon from Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. They were joined by Racing Pride Director Bryanna Harding who had previously worked for Aston Martin. 

All the panels gave great insight into the LGBTQ+ community in motorsport and allowed people to feel included in a sport that they love. It also allowed the attendees to get a look into what teams and people in the industry are doing to make the sport accessible and how to boost inclusion and diversity. 

Hopefully there will be more chances for me to attend Racing Pride events and this will not be the last Accelerate Pride. 

To learn more about Racing Pride please visit their website: https://racingpride.com/

- by Lizzy Oxendale

Susie Wolff is more than just “his wife”: The double standards in media

The motorsports community was sent into a frenzy when the FIA announced an investigation into a possible conflict of interest between an F1 team principal and a member of Formula One management.

The FIA statement read: “The FIA is aware of media speculation centred on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM [Formula One Management] personnel. The FIA Compliance Department is looking into the matter.”

It was quickly revealed that the investigation was about Susie and Toto Wolff and lasted a total of three days before the compliance department finished the matter.

Within the first day, F1 revealed that the investigation was not shared with them before hand and had “complete confidence” the allegations were wrong.

Mercedes released a statement on social media that said: “We wholly reject the allegation in the statement and associated media coverage” and was also surprised about the investigation as they were also not warned before it was released.

Susie Wolff released a separate statement on social media expressing how she was “deeply insulted but sadly unsurprised” by the allegations that she deemed as misogynistic behavior.

The second day of the allegations was met with a co-ordinated statement from all the F1 teams which read “we can confirm that we have not made any complaint to the FIA regarding the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed between an F1 team principal and a member of FOM staff” and the statement was ended with support for F1 Academy.

And then on the third day, the day before the FIA prize giving ceremony, the allegations were put aside and the announcement that the investigation was ended was released.

The FIA statement relating to this said: ‘‘Following a review of Formula One Management’s F1 Code of Conduct and F1 Conflict of Interest Policy and confirmation that appropriate protective measures are in place to mitigate any potential conflicts, the FIA is satisfied that FOM’s compliance management system is robust enough to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.

‘‘The FIA can confirm that there is no ongoing investigation in terms of ethical or disciplinary inquiries involving any individual.

‘‘As the regulator, the FIA has a duty to maintain the integrity of global motorsport. The FIA reaffirms its commitment to integrity and fairness.’’

Throughout all this, media outlets released socials media posts, articles and videos explaining the news to their readers and viewers, hoping to be the first to catch a story.

Susie Wolff is the managing director of F1 Academy, former professional racing driver, former Williams F1 development driver, the most recent woman to take part in an F1 weekend as a racer, former Race of Champions participant and former channel 4 F1 coverage analyst.

With this entire list to choose from media personal were not short of ways to describe the pioneer of women in motorsport.

“Wife” was the term they chose.

Autosport readers would have read an article titled ‘FIA opens compliance investigation into potential Wolff conflict of interest’.

The tagline explained how “Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff and wife Susie” were under investigation by the FIA Compliance department.

Motorsport.com readers would have read a similar article written by the same author titled the same thing.

The tagline once again described how “Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff and wife Susie” were being investigated because of a potential conflict of interest.

Readers of ESPN would have seen an article titled ‘FIA opens investigation into Toto and Susie Wolff over conflict of interest claims.’ Which in its first paragraph said: “Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and wife Susie, head of the F1 Academy” were subjects of the investigation.

After the FIA announced the investigation had ended Sky Sports released an article titled ‘FIA drops investigation into conduct of Toto and Susie Wolff after finding no conflict of interest possible.’

Its first paragraph read: “The FIA has dropped the investigation into the conduct of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and his wife Susie, the head of F1 Academy, after finding Formula 1’s compliance rules to be sufficiently robust to prevent any breaches of confidentiality.”

The guardian published an article titled ‘FIA quickly drops conflict of interest investigation into Toto and Susie Wolff.’

The first paragraph talks about how the FIA backed down from the conflict of interest investigation into “Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, and his wife, Susie.”

“…wife, Susie…” is something that all these articles have in common, the authors for some unknown reason saw it fit to reduce the 41-year-old to her marital status and while some mentioned her job title the majority did not.

This reduced the women who became F1 Academy’s managing director because of her own accomplishments and experience to a team principles wife and even the ones that did mention her job put the fact she is a wife first.

Females in Motorsport tweeted ‘PSA Susie Wolff is more than just Toto’s wife.’

This is not the first-time a woman in sports have been reduced to a relationship status in articles and the problem is faced by all women in the public eye. Taylor Swift is a key example outside of the world of sports.

Swift is an American singer-songwriter with 12 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, 40 American Music Awards, 40 Billboard Music Awards, 23 MTV Video Music Awards and a loyal and loving fanbase that spans the globe.

Despite this great success with her music shaping the industry articles focus on who the breakup songs are about and if she is in a relationship or not.

The majority of articles focusing on women convey double standards within the media and journalist community and the coverage on the Wolff situation is no different.

Although the marriage status of the Wolff’s is a part of the story as the accusations made were centered around the fact they are married (which was a misogynistic look in the first place), it is not an important factor and is not important enough to put in the tagline or first paragraph.

In journalism writing one of the main rules is the most important information goes first and then as you read on more information is revealed.

These articles could have easily said something along the lines of ‘the married couple have been accused of…’ or ‘the couple that have been married for 11 years…’ this tells the reader the information while keeping the viewer focused on the actual story.

This also does not undermine either of the pair’s jobs or accomplishments.

Deeming a man as ‘husband’ would never be done, and the fact it has been done to a woman is an example of the double standards that women face in media. Along with having less coverage women in motorsport must battle with the bland and dull coverage they do get or coverage that does not note their merits.

- by Lizzy Oxendale

The Track Day Experience

Motorsport is amazing to watch but must be one of the hardest sports to take part in.

It is expensive and for the most part exclusive and with-it being male dominated it can be even harder for women.

That is why it is so amazing that organisations like Formula Woman exist.

Formula Woman is a global community that aims to help drive women into motorsport and help them develop their skills.

I recently had the pleasure to attend a Formula Woman track day at Donnington Park, this day is one of the integral ways that the organisation is helping women realise their dreams.

A track day is when teams, organisations and people get the chance to use the track to learn about the twists and turns, the cars and the people driving.

Formula Woman has hosted many track days and have scheduled many more in order to train members of their Academy, allow people to try racing for the first time or get women with more experience back on the circuit.

When I first decided to attend, I was unsure on what to expect as this was going to be my first ever track day, the only thing I really knew is that it would be cold.

When I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms into garage 16 where two Formula Woman cars were waiting to be driven.

Graeme Glew, Formula Woman’s founder, was there to train and help the women and was able to give me a passenger lap around the track.

This wasn’t my first time being driven around a MSV track as I had the opportunity to do a fast lap around Brands Hatch but this was my first time with Formula Women and around Donnington.

It was interesting to learn and feel for myself the racing line and even as a passenger I felt the thrill of racing.

The day went on after with each woman who had travelled to Donnington getting their time behind the wheel with each getting a feel for the car as a passenger first.

One thing I noticed as I made my way up and down the pitlane to find a spot to watch the cars on track was that garage 16 was the only female representation there.

No other women were walking up and down in helmets.

No other women were getting in cars.

Motorsport has been a male-dominated sport since its creation and only recently has that started to fully change.

Trailblazers like Lella Lombardi, Maria Teresa de Filippis, Janet Guthrie and Sara Christian paved the way and trendsetters like Susie Wolff, Jaimie Chadwick and Marta Garcia continue the path.

Formula Woman help women around the world realise they can follow in the footsteps of these women.

Glew described motorsport as the “most expensive sport in the world”, “incredibly addictive” and the fact there can only be one winner means that it’s “98% disappointment.”

The organisation doesn’t just help with the racing side of motorsport, they also try and assist in every aspect including sponsorship.

“I try and encourage the girls to go and find personal sponsors,” Glew said, “We try and give guidance because it’s not only just about finding a sponsor it’s how you look after that sponsor.”

Glew explained that it’s “not been easy” to build and continue the organisation but the “only way” to enter the world of motorsport, especially as a driver, is to do it by gaining experience so attending a track day is an amazing way to start.

Honor Harley is a member of the Formula Woman Academy and was at the track day learning with Glew.

As a new member of the Academy this was her second time at a track day, but she is enjoying it. Harley said: “I’m ready to go and it’s really exciting.”

The 24-year-old explained that since joining Formula Woman she has been motivated more and in different ways. She also finds motivation from being the one of the only women on track.

“I’m not expecting to be one of the best drivers in the world,” Harley added, “I’d like to get to competitive level, “I like the idea of getting a platform for myself and being able to inspire other women.”

Inspiration is often a term used in motorsport as having and being a person that you can look up to is important and it all comes back to the saying, if you see it, you can be it.

With members in 68 different countries Formula Woman is trying to help a whole new generation of racers in any way they can with advice and experience.

To find out if there is a Formula Woman track day near you, please look on their social media.

- by Lizzy Oxendale

F1 Academy 2023 season recap

The 2023 inaugural F1 Academy season is over.

Marta Garcia was crowned champion and her team, Prema Racing were named constructors’ champions.

The battle for the titles went down to the last round in Austin where the championship was a Formula One support race for the first time.

The last round was also broadcasted for the first time as before only the live timings were shown on the F1 Academy website. And highlights were posted to YouTube and shown on TV.

The season has had its ups and downs but put on a show for anyone who was able to attend, watch the live timings or watch or attend the last weekend.

Everyone will be looking forward to next year’s season which will have a lot of good things instore but for now let’s look back on the 2023 season.

Spielberg

Round one of the all-female series took place at the Red Bull Ring and many people took to TikTok to share that they were watching the live timings.

Abbi Pulling toped the timings for Free Practice 1 while Amna Al Qubaisi set the fastest time for the 2nd practice session.

Marta Garcia qualified in pole position in both of the qualifying sessions and then went on to win race one. Bianca Bustamante came 2nd followed by Jess Edgar in 3rd .

For race two the reverse grid Amna Al Qubaisi won with Lena Buhler and Lola Lovinfosse standing next to her on the podium.

Garcia won the last race of the weekend after starting on pole, Hamda Al Qubaisi came 2nd and her sister stood on the podium for a second time that weekend.

Valencia

Spain was the second round for F1 Academy.

Narea Marti set the fastest lap time in FP1 while Garcia topped FP2.

Marti qualified for pole in qualifying one while her fellow free practice time topper Garcia got pole in Qualy 2.

H Al Qubaisi came 1st in Race 1 with the pole sitter behind her in P2 and Lena Buhler taking the last podium place.

In Race 2, Bustamante finished 1st with Buhler in 2nd, moving up one place from race 1, and Hamda Al Quabaisi came 3rd .

The last race of the weekend gave Garcia the chance to win once again with Marti and Pulling following her over the finish line.

Barcelona

The Academy were once again in Spain for round three in Barcelona.

The younger Al Qubaisi sister was the fastest in both free practice sessions.

Emely De Heus qualified fastest in the first session and Buhler took pole in the second session.

The Dutch racer win race 1 from pole position followed by Pulling and Garcia.

The older Al Qubaisi sister finished 1st after the reverse grid in race 2 with Garcia in 2nd and Pulling taking a second podium of the weekend.

Buhler, Hamna Al Qubaisi and Garcia all took their places on the race 3 podium.

Zandvoort

The championship went to the Netherlands for round four of the 2023 season.

Hamda Al Qubaisi was fastest in free practice one and Lena Buhler was fastest in free practice two.

The Al Qubaisi qualified in pole position in both qualy sessions and won race 1 and 3.

Buhler came 2nd in race 1 with Marti in 3rd place and in race 3, De Haus came 2nd and Buhler came 3rd.

In race 2, Carrie Schreiner finished in first place and Garcia finished second while third place went to Buhler.

Monza

Round 5 was in Italy on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

Buhler topped the timings in FP1 while Garcia was fastest in FP2 and Qualifying 1. Pulling topped Qualifying 2.

In the first race of the weekend, Garcia finished 1st, Buhler finished 2nd and Edgar finished 3rd.

The second race was won by Buhler who was followed by Bustemante and Pulling.

The Pilipino racer won in race 3 with Pulling in 2nd and Marti in 3rd .

Le Castellet

The second to last round was based in France.

Marti was fastest in FP1 while the fastest in FP2 was Buhler.

Abbi Pulling took poll in qualifying 1 and pole was taken by Lena Buhler in the second qualifying session.

Compos Racing got a double podium in race 1 with Marti winning and Lovinfosse finishing 3rd, they were separated by Pulling in 2nd.

Race 2 was won by Garcia who was followed over the line by Buhler and then Amna Al Qubaisi.

Garcia also won race 3 with Buhler in 2nd again and Lovinfosse in 3rd .

Austin

The last round was with F1 in Austin for the United States GP and it was broadcasted for the first time around the world for everyone to watch.

Garcia was fastest in free practice one and Edgar was fastest in the second session. Both drivers were also the fastest in the qualifying sessions, the Spaniard getting pole for race 1 and the British racer getting pole in race 3.

Marta Garcia won the first race of the weekend and won the inaugural F1 Academy championship.

Pulling came 2nd and Buhler finished 3rd.

In race 2 saw Hamna Al Qubaisi won with Buhler in 3nd and Edgar in 3rd .

In the last race of the season Jess Edgar took her first ever win after starting in pole position, Marti finished second and the new championship champion finished 3rd .

- by Lizzy Oxendale

Motorsports health and safety: Is our favorite sport safe?

Is motorsport safe?

The question crosses the mind of every person who watches or takes part is motorsport, but the question was brought to the front of conversation after the F1 Qatar Grand Prix.

Anyone who watched the race would have seen the tole the heat had on the drivers.

Logan Sargeant retired due to feeling unwell and had to be helped from the car, his teammate Alex Albon also had to be helped from the car after the race.

It was revealed that multiple drivers vomited in their helmet, Esteban Ocon being one of them and drivers fainted after the race had finished.

Lance Stroll struggled to get out of the car and when he did medical personal, and mechanics rushed to his aid when he was suspected to have fainted. The Aston Martins on board camera also caught Stroll passing out while driving.

Yuki Tsundo, Lando Norris and George Russel were seen opening their visors at moments in order to get some air and Fernando Alonso complained about the heat of his seat and suggested he had ended up with burns in interviews after the checkered flag.

Charles Leclerc struggled to answer questions in the media pen and the cool down room was rightfully named as the top three were seen visibly exhausted, Oscar Piastri was even seen laying on the floor.

Fans were concerned about the wellbeing of the drivers, but everyone has been confirmed to be alright, but the question remained, is motorsports safe?

Motorsports is one of the most dangerous sports in the world with a long list of fatalities since its invention but in modern society there are few.

Sadly, there are still racers who have passed more recently but organisations have adapted, changed and regulated to try and make motorsports safe.

Fireproof Suits and Helmets

In all championships drivers have to wear fireproof overalls, undershirts, gloves, balaclavas, socks and shoes, and depending on the type of racing some championships mandate what type of underwear the racers can use.

These suits hope to protect the drivers from extreme heat, Romain Grosjean was protected by his suit when he was involved in a horrific crash in Bahrain 2020 where his car burst into flames after hitting the barriers.

Racers at all levels are required to wear helmets. These helmets have a outer shell of carbon fibre and an inner shell of thick polystyrene and padding to protect the racers from head trauma.

Car Equipment

Depending on the championship the cars have been manufactured with safety precautions that haven been adapted over the years to cope with the changing technology.

Race cars have seatbelts that are stronger than an average car and seats that are modified to their bodies.

Formula 1 cars are made to break apart easily when they hit anything with extreme force to protect the driver inside.

NASCAR cars along with other similar championships have roll cages which stop the car from bending inwards when they collide with other cars or the wall.

Circuits

While old racing circuits continue to amaze, and new circuits are being built, safety is always on the minds of organisers.

Tracks go through vigorous testing. These tests include simulations, test drives and races and track walks with professionals. These tests take place before, after and during race weekends.

Health and Safety

At every F1 event and many other championships team of health and safety personal are there. These teams work together to make sure the tracks are safe, and everyone involved in the race including fans are safe.

Championships have health and safety regulations where drivers and teams can be penalised if it is revealed that they have broken those rules. These regulations are adapted and changed if needed.

Marshals

Every racetrack has volunteer or paid marshals who enable the safe and efficient operation of events. You will see these people when you attend races or watch them on TV.

Marshalls help the fans at events conduct themselves safely but they’re main purpose is the safety of the track. They wave the relevant flags and help clear the tracks after collisions. They are the key factor to informing the drivers and the organizers what is happening on track.

Are motorsports safe?

Changes are constantly being made to adapt to new technology while still being as safe as it can be and the safety rules and regulations help everyone understand how to be safe while enjoying motorsports.

Although motorsports will never be fully safe we can work towards making it the safest it can be.

- by Lizzy Oxendale

F1 Academy: Austin Preview

The last F1 Academy weekend of 2023 is set to take place in Austin on the Circuit of the

Americas this weekend.

This race marks the end of the season and a new start with the race’s being broadcasted and the weekend falling as a Formula One support race for the first time. Marta Garcia currently stands at the top of the standings with 235 points, only 48 points in front of Léna Bühler who is 2nd . Hamda Al Qubaisi, Nerea Martí and Abbi Pulling all follow in drivers’ championship.

In the Constructors championship MP Motorsport are in front followed by Prema Racing. Art Grand Prix are 3 rd in the standings closely followed by Rodin Carlin and Mercantile Campos Racing.

In the UK, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand you can watch the sessions on Sky. In the USA, Caribbean and Latin America you can watch on ESPN. In the Nordic countries the weekend will be shown on Viaplay and in Australia and Mexico Fox Sports will be televising the weekend.

Click here to see where you can watch the weekend in your country.

The F1 Academy is a championship that is designed to train young female racers and provide them with the tools they need to succeed at the highest level.

It was founded by F1 and the FIA in order to promote and support women in motorsport.

Next year changes to the championship means that every race will be a feature of the F1 calendar, the F1 teams will each have a livery and driver in the championship and every race will be broadcasted live throughout the world.

With the impressive track record of the F1 Academy so far and the high level of talent that is expected to be on display, it is no wonder that the weekend in Austin is generating so much buzz.

Whether you are an avid motorsports fan or just looking for an exciting event to watch, be sure to mark your calendars and know all the timings.

- by Lizzy Oxendale

Inside Track: A look into More Than Equal’s research months after its release

More Than Equal are an independent and non-profit organisation founded by David Coulthard and Karel Komarek to find, nurture, and develop female drivers in the world of motorsport.

Their aim is to identify and remove the systematic barriers women face while trying to find and develop the first female Formula One World Champion.

More Than Equal Introduction Video

In July, More Than Equal released their groundbreaking research exploring the gender gap in motorsports.

The report was named, Inside Track: Exploring the gender gap in motorsport.

The report was commissioned so the organisation could identify the biggest barriers and problems for women and to build a programme to change it to make the sport more equal.

More Than Equal gave a voice to the growing female fanbase and female drivers across the world while performing their research and it highlights the need for “collaboration and collective action.”

The Research

More Than Equal focused on four areas of research that made up the report which makes it the “most comprehensive study ever undertaken into women’s participation in motorsport.”

The four areas are stereotypes as barriers, culture and change, the role and impact of sponsorship and global participation of women and girls.

Table - four areas of research in Inside Track, Created by Lizzy Oxendale

To study the four areas More Than Equal had four approaches which are their global attitude survey, one-on-one interviews with over 70 experts, understanding and collating existing and relevant insight and their global driver aggregation project.

From this the report noted five key areas for change. These are more grassroots participation, more data and research, more recognition of the cultural change, more support for young female drivers and more collaboration.

As a result of the report More Than Equal are dedicated to continuing their investment in building an evidence base, launching a world-class driver development programme, building the first dedicated global female driver talent database, and leveraging their networks to benefit women in motorsport.

Overall Findings

The organisations report researched many aspects of the sport in order to reveal the findings that would help their aim of getting more women in the top flights of motorsport.

The research found that there is a gender participation gap as the “participation of women and girls in motorsport at all levels is depressingly low.” Female participation currently represents 10% across all categories of competition. Looking closer, 13% of participation in karting is from girls and it drops to 7% in Formula and GT racing.

The report also revealed a gender performance gap. Women are not progressing at the same rate as their male counterparts and currently represent 4% of the top flights of motorsport.

However, the insights show there has been small growth in female participation in recent years and established markets are feeding it. But there are still barriers holding women back.

Image - barriers holding female drivers back as revealed in the report, Created by Lizzy Oxendale

The growing female fanbase in motorsport, most notably in F1, was researched and the results showed that female fans are around 10 years younger than their male counterparts, they are more driven by social media and 70% more likely to engage with digital platforms for content.

It was revealed that men and women agree on key issues about women in motorsport, mainly the fact that over 80% of fans believe women will be racing in F1 within the next 10 years.

There is a “universally strong belief” that female drivers have all the necessary racing skills, technical and emotional, to compete at an elite level, and on an equal footing.

Inside Track revealed female fans have stronger views. The report said: “They are passionate about being part of it, they are dissatisfied with the sport’s lack of female inclusion, and they are sceptical about initiatives for change.”

To read the research in more detail download Inside Track from the More Than Equal website.

Download Inside Track: Exploring the gender gap in motorsport, here:

https://www.morethanequal.com/

What this means

In simpler terms, the research reinstated what fans already knew. There is a gender gap in motorsports that has many different aspects attached that makes it hard for women and girls to participate.

Inside Track is the only research published about women in motorsport on this level and the only research that is of this magnitude, made up of 58 pages of pure knowledge, statistics, and findings.

The research has allowed women in motorsport knowledge to grow and there is a higher understanding of the barriers and problems women have faced and will face in the future.

The Aftermath of the Publication

When Inside Track was published female fans began to hope that there would be change soon, the general consensus was that the fact this research had been put together meant that the initiative put in place might help get more women into motorsport.

Before this, women had compared More Than Equal to other initiatives which they believed had either failed or had been more words than action. But the research showed that the organisation had stuck to their words and had done what they had promised.

The research also showed fans that they were being taken seriously with their want for more representation in motorsport being discussed.

Also, after the publication, the FIA and F1 were urged to do more.

It was described as “disappointing” by CEO Alison Donnelly to Planet F1 when asked about the results that showed the participants of the global survey believed that motorsport’s efforts to drive for change was 20 th in 21 sports.

FIA and F1 under fire after alarming results from huge female motorsport investigation by Planet F1

This showed that the overall perception of F1 was that they are not doing much to expand or keep their growing female fanbase. This is also showed on ‘F1 TikTok’.

Countless content creators have spoken about how female fans are constantly harassed online and at races or events, but the organisers and Formula 1 have failed to address the problem.

What’s to come?

The future is always uncertain but with the belief that there will be women racing in the top flights of motorsport once again within the next 10 years there is positivity surrounding women in motorsport.

This has only been intensified by the fact Jessica Hawkins became the first woman in five years to complete an F1 test.

The report has allowed fans to see what barriers they need to help women racers overcome to allow them to compete equally, and many have begun to come up with ways to do that. This will only continue.

What do you believe will happen in the future?

- by Lizzy Oxendale

The Pros and Cons of Sunglasses in Motorsport

At first glance, it might seem sunglasses are synonymous with motorsports. Movies portraying life on the track often have their leads in shades, from Christian Bale and Matt Damon's portrayals of Carroll Shelby and Ken Mills in Ford vs. Ferrari through to the striking image of the chequered flag reflecting in Barry Pepper's lenses in 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story. However, as always with the movies, it's not quite reality.

Drivers are snapped in sunglasses often. Ray-Ban have been a sponsor of the Ferrari Formula1 team for many years, and drivers like Kimi Raikkonen and Carlos Sainz have modelled their Scuderia collection both in promo shots and the paddock. Formula Woman's very own Sara Misir has been spotted sporting shades to shield her eyes from the sun at Snetterton. However, one rarely sees sunglasses on an F1 podium - where you'd think they might be useful, even if only to shield the eyes from stray champagne. The reason is sunglasses aren't permitted under an F1 helmet. While prescription lenses are allowed - Ralf Schumacher and Nelson Piquet Jr. wore contacts, and Toro Rosso racer Sébastien Bourdais even wore spectacles - sunglasses are seen as non-essential. Drivers can choose a visor tint based on the conditions of their race. For example, the Singapore GP is a night race (to compensate for timezones and pull in the European TV audience), and the bulk of drivers there will opt for clear visors versus the heavy tints that are desirable in Dubai or Miami.

With that in mind, let's have a closer look at sunglasses in motorsports.

Bright spots

Most people will have a pair of sunglasses that they keep handy for driving. The changing conditions of real-world roads almost necessitate them, in the happy event that it's dull when we make our morning commute but blazing sunshine when it's time to head home. It's often said that polarised sunglasses are the most useful for British drivers as, alongside reducing glare from headlights and streetlights, they help to minimise light reflecting from wet surfaces – it's why they're also a favourite of sailors and anglers, particularly those from sporting design focused brands like Oakley. Their Prizm lens technology can also help pick out particular colours while driving, as an extension of the common wisdom that different shaded lenses work better in different conditions – grey when it's sunny and contrast-enhancing tints like brown or amber if it's overcast. There's also some evidence that they can help keep your eyes 'awake' – which is why Indy car drivers often wear shades in the cockpit; their races clocking in at about double the average 90 minutes of a Formula 1 drive. At the gruelling 24-hour Grand Prix de Vitesse et d'Endurance at Le Mans, sunglasses are almost compulsory, and most drivers will have at least one day and one night pair.

Pitstops and pitfalls

That's not to say sunglasses are suitable for all motorsports. The FIA obviously take a dim view, and you can rationalise that at 200mph, anything not necessary that may cause a driver a moment's discomfort could lead to a distraction that could end very badly. Likewise, with the thrills and spills of rally driving, glasses could become unseated, causing distraction or potentially even having to stop should the driver have prescription lenses.

Sunglasses will have a VLT rating - that is to say, how much light they'll let in. Oakley's Prizm Road range, for example, comes in models between 12% and 20% Visible Light Transmission. While this is great for sunny conditions, it's less ideal for twilight and, on an endurance race, will likely need to be swapped out or taken off. To give an idea, house windows are generally fitted at 50%-60% light transmission, as going below 45% will make the interior noticeably duller when you're inside.

So should one wear sunglasses when on a track day? It's very much up to personal preference. While the pros have their own performance reasons to wear them, we can also be real and realise that part and parcel of professional sports is endorsement deals that can make it well worth their time to do so. If an amateur racer doesn't generally wear shades for day-to-day driving, they may be a distraction. For most of us who do, it can be worth investing in a premium pair to take full advantage of the benefits they bring.

F1 Academy: Season ending, F1 liveries, TV broadcasting and support races

F1 Academy is set to finish its inaugural season at Circuit of the Americas alongside Formula One. Prema Racing driver, Marta Garcia currently leads the championship standings.

The weekend will mark the first F1 weekend that the all-female series will be a support race in, and this will continue throughout the 2024 season.

In a recent flurry of breaking news, it was announced that the liveries of the F1 teams will be used in the F1 Academy with each team promoting a driver, the series will be shown live on TV with further information set to be announced and the 2024 calendar will be entirely made up of F1 support races.

All this news was happily welcomed by Susie Wolff who is the Managing Director of the series. The 40-year-old announced most of this news on her social media accounts which were followed by confirmations on the official F1 Academy accounts.

F1 Drivers and Liveries

In July, it was announced that all 10 Formula 1 teams will represent one driver in the all-female racing series, with their livery on the nominated driver’s car.

This year the championship had five teams, ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, MP Motorsport, PREMA Racing and Rodin Carlin, each of these teams have three drivers.

It is expected for these teams to stay the same in 2024 but have one of the five drivers left after one driver will be nominated by an F1 team and will drive under their name and livery.

Broadcasting

Starting in 2024, it is expected that all F1 Academy races will be shown live on TV.

Wolff announced that after the race in Austin all of the races will be shown live for fans to watch. However, a firm broadcast deal has not been announced but fans suspect that the deal will be similar to Formula 2 or Formula 3.

Support Series

When the series was first announced a clear succession was portrayed as the championship was placed in the same area as the support series regarding the progression into F1.

At the same time it was announced to be shown live it was also announced that the 2024 calendar will include F1 support races.

The Future

With all of these announcements it has excited fans for the future of F1 Academy, and they hope the series will help integrate more women into F1.

Susie Wolff was the last woman to participate in an F1 weekend in 2015 when she was a Williams reserve driver and drove in a couple of practice sessions and Giovanna Amati was the last woman to enter a formula 1 grand prix in 1992.

F1 Academy has given hope that the series could see a female F1 driver sooner rather than later and it hopes to encourage more young girls into motorsport.

Wolff said in an Instagram post: “Together, we will create a platform that propels the next generation of female talent.”

- by Lizzy Oxendale

Lotus to supply Formula Woman with Emira GT4 for the GT Cup

Formula Woman are delighted to announce a race programme with the GT Cup Championship for the last rounds at Donington and Snetterton in an Emira GT4. The car will be run by 24-7 Motorsport and Formula Woman drivers selected are Sara Misir (Jamaica) and Alana Carter (Canada) who are both Formula Woman competition winners.

Formula Woman is a community of 5,000 women from 53 countries with the goal of encouraging more women into motorsport. This year, a number of their drivers have experienced the thrill and excitement of the all-new Emira through the Lotus Driving Academy. Now, two of the most promising members of the Formula Woman community will have the chance to race the Lotus Emira GT4 competitively in the final two rounds of GT Cup championship.

Last year four Formula Woman drivers competed in GT Cup in two Trade Centre McLaren 570S race cars. Trade Centre are delighted to continue supporting the Formula Woman drivers in their quest to pursue successful careers in motorsport.

Stewart Croucher Lotus Motorsport & Drive Programme Manager commented: “The Emira road car is such an excellent starting point for GT4 and having refined and tuned the package, we are confident that the Formula Woman race programme with GT Cup will allow 24-7 Motorsport to give Alana and Sara their best shot in a competitive performance oriented race car.”

Graeme Glew Founder and CEO Totally Motorsport Group Ltd commented: “After reviving Formula Woman after a 17 year absence and getting four women into GT Cup last year, I’m absolutely delighted that Lotus has seen the potential of our global network of women. Over the 20 years, we have been supported by Mazda, Caterham, Jaguar, Vauxhall, BMW and McLaren. To have the support of one of the most iconic race car brands in the world is another great step forward for Formula Woman.”

Sara Misir was one of the 2021 winners of Formula Woman and Alana Carter was one of the 2022 winners.

Sara Misir from Jamaica commented: “To be a Jamaican woman and be racing in the UK is a step on its own, to be racing in a Lotus is an honour. They are known for achieving performance through their cutting-edge technologies and lightweight cars and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this car and put it to the test.”

Alana Carter from Canada commented: “I am beyond thrilled to be driving a Lotus for my UK racing debut. To be a Canadian racing on the global level is a great privilege and I’m honoured to represent my country behind the wheel of this legendary car. Lotus’ dedication to making cars for the drivers resonates strongly with me and I could not be more proud to drive for them!”

Phill Hurn of 24-7 Motorsport commented: “24-7 Motorsport are super excited to be supporting Formula Woman in the MSVR GT Cup Championship for the rest of the season and will be the first UK team to run the Lotus Emira GT4 in the MSVR GT Cup. As an ex-Lotus Motorsport employee and 24-7 founder, I am really looking forward to running Alana and Sara in GT Cup and supporting the amazing Formula Woman programme across the globe.”

Hannah James GT Cup Championship Director commented: “The GT Cup is delighted to welcome Formula Woman back to the grid and we look forward to seeing what they can bring to the competitive Group GTH with the brand new Lotus Emira GT4”.

NB: The two Formula Woman GT Cup reserve team drivers are Steph Sore (England) and Eliza Seville (England)

Silverstone Takes Pole Position in New Research Revealing World's Most Camera-worthy Race Tracks

• Silverstone takes the title of the world’s most visually captivating race track, winning out over Germany’s Nürburgring and Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps.

• Japan ranks twice among the top five, with the Suzuka circuit and Fuji Speedway ranking fourth and fifth respectively.

New research by AVIS, a premium partner of the FIA World Endurance Championship, has revealed Silverstone as motorsport’s most camera-worthy racing circuit, the hallowed ground of British motorsport beating out Germany’s iconic Nürburgring and Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps.

The research team at AVIS identified which race track commands the most attention from racing enthusiasts by analysing hashtag data from over 4 million Instagram posts and over 2 billion TikTok views.

The data reveals that the Nürburgring is the most popular circuit on Instagram, appearing in over 1 million posts, and Silverstone is the unassailable champion of TikTok, accruing almost 1 billion impressions.

1. Silverstone

Silverstone is a legendary race track with a rich history. The circuit’s top-performing hashtag appeared in more than 800,000 posts on Instagram and was viewed almost a billion times on TikTok, putting it way ahead of the pack. Its seat at the top reinforces its status as a shrine for racing aficionados.

2. Nürburgring

Located in Germany and surrounded by lush forests, the Nürburgring or ‘Green Hell’ is an icon of motorsports. The circuit performed the best on Instagram, appearing in over 1 million posts and was viewed nearly half a billion times on TikTok.

3. Spa-Francorchamps

Spa-Francorchamps is a classic race circuit beloved by drivers and spectators alike. Surrounded by greenery in Belgium’s Stavelot, the race track is undeniably beautiful. It came fifth overall on Instagram and third on TikTok, with an impressive 366,000 views.

Louise Morgan, Director of International Marketing at AVIS, said: “Motorsport enthusiasts have always been drawn to iconic racing venues, but this novel study brings a fresh dimension, utilising social media as a digital yardstick to gauge the collective appeal of FIA’s grade-one race tracks.

“The research highlights just how iconic these historic places are and as proud partners of FIA WEC, it’s great to see lovers of the sport engaging online and photographing or recording themselves when they get a chance to visit these revered spaces.”

For a full list of the top 20 rankings, please see: https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/14755843/. 

Zandvoort’s new safety measures and what it means

As the excitement calms down after the Dutch Grand Prix people will be looking back on the wet and windy race where Max Verstappen took first place at his home race with Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly joining him on the podium.

Before the race weekend the organizers took significant steps to prioritize fan safety and Zandvoort implemented new rules and regulations.

These measures aimed to ensure the well-being of fans while maintaining the electrifying atmosphere that makes the Formula 1 experience so special.

Enhanced Safety Measures

1. Access Control and Screening

Thorough screening procedures, including bag checks and metal detectors, were in place at all entry points. These measures are designed to prevent prohibited items from entering the venue and to maintain a secure environment.

2. Increased Security Personnel

To bolster safety efforts, Zandvoort significantly increased the number of security personnel throughout the venue. Trained professionals were strategically positioned to monitor crowds, respond to any incidents promptly, and ensure a safe and orderly environment for all attendees.

3. Enhanced Medical Facilities

Medical personnel were readily available to provide immediate assistance in case of any medical emergencies. Additionally, first aid stations were located throughout the venue.

4. Clear Signage and Emergency Exits

To ensure smooth evacuation in case of emergencies, the organisers implemented clear signage and designated emergency exits. These measures were put in place to help fans navigate the venue efficiently and safely, ensuring a swift response in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

5. Communication and Information

Information regarding safety protocols, emergency procedures, and any updates was to be readily available through various channels, including the official event website, social media platforms, and on-site announcements.

6. Contraband

Even though smoke and flash flares had been a part of the contraband list at all races on the f1 calendar. Fans at Zandvoort some how always found a way to get them on the grounds and the orange smoke always filled the air during the last lap of the race. This year it was announced that there would be more of an effort to stop contraband from entering the circuit’s ground.

What does this mean?

These safety measures were put in place for the fans to have a more enjoyable experience after several incidents took place throughout the 2022 season. There was a rise in reports of harassment during race weekends towards members of the LGBTQ+ community, women and opposing team’s fans.

It was hoped by fans that the enhanced security personnel would help stop harassment and with no reports from the circuit so far it might have worked. Female F1 fans have been calling for action for a while since they began to speak out about the harassment they face on social media.

The steps the Dutch GP had taken are set in stone for future races and the organisers hope that everyone can be respectful of each other so all attendees can enjoy their time.

What will happen in the future?

Looking forward other tracks may take the lead from Zandvoort and put in place similar rules and regulations if they haven’t already.

It is hoped that the measures implemented will help create a extra special experience for fans that attend the grand prix and make sure that everyone is safe to enjoy the race. The organisers will hope that a more accurate view of how the measures have helped will be seen next year but with only positive reviews from officials and fans the future looks bright.

- by Lizzy Oxendale

Black History Month: Sara Misir changed career after fracturing her skull and was first female Caribbean to race for Formula Woman

Sara Misir, the first Jamaican Formula Woman racer reveals her incredible story, discussing her unusual route into the sport, facing barriers, and advice to younger generations who want to follow her path.

Misir tells Sky Sports News how her career in motorsport racing started. "It has been a long journey. I started when I was four years old, actually in equestrian. And that was my first passion.

"It was my dream to go to the Olympics and I was training to head to the Pan American Games when I was 16-years-old. Unfortunately, I had a small accident, so I had a small change in sports," said the 24-year-old who spoke to Sky Sports News from Silverstone.

She explains the shift from equestrian to motorsport following her tragic accident when she was 16-years-old and how she came back into sport after a recovery that took half a year. "I was training for the Pan American games and me and my horse were warming up one morning.

"We were doing our normal jumping routine, getting ready for competition. And he tripped over a jump and unfortunately, I was half off, so I jumped off and spooked him.

"He spun around and kicked up and I got kicked in the face by my horse. It was about a six-month recovery. I had dislocated my jaw and my skull was cracked in half."

She adds: "It was a traumatic event to get over. And with that, it was a nine-hour surgery. When I got to the hospital, it was an intense way to go from being a top athlete to just being able to make it down the stairs without having to take a break halfway."

The Formula Woman racer says she had her "jaw wired shut" and was on a liquid diet for five months.

Looking to build a career in professional equestrian, she took a step back from the sport after suffering another injury: "About seven months later I got back on the horse, and I started training again. Unfortunately, I got bucked off and broke my shoulder in half that same year."

Misir shares the moment she was introduced to Motorsport racing by her father: "So it was a lot in one year. And my parents looked at me and said, 'Let's just take a small break and just relax from this for a second.'

"So, my dad with a long history in motorsports, introduced me to go-karting, he said: 'Just try this in the meantime it's competitive, high adrenaline, you will love it.'

"And he was right. I instantly fell in love with it. I started go-karting, but it was a love-hate relationship because you imagine I was training horseback riding since four-years-old and I was training that my whole life."

She adds: "I was making podium finishes, traveling around South America representing Jamaica, and then all of a sudden I came into a brand-new sport at 18-years-old with people that have been racing since they were four or five years old that knew it all already.

"But I had a good support network, who were just pushing me to keep on going. And there were so many times that I wanted to quit.

"But, with that village around me, it really allowed me to get to where I am today."

Misir explained the thrill of pursuing a motorsport career: "It's the mental aspect of racing that I love, your head-to-head with people. It's almost like a chess game where you have to pick where to pass, pick how to do it. You have to look at your opponent, see if they're more aggressive and read how they drive.

"I love it because it doesn't matter if you're male or female. I understand that between men and women you have the genetic advantages as a male.

"However, in a race car, it's a mind game. It's more of who has the experience or who can read the track better or who can perform at peak performance and have that mindfulness and relaxation and focus."

Misir reveals the high-intensity impacts that motorsport has not only on your mind but on your body: "People say, 'you just sit in a car and drive.' And it's so much more than that, I've gone a race day where I've lost almost six pounds.

"I went to my nutritionist, and she told me I burned about 9000 calories in one day and that was without going to the gym.

"So, there's a lot that goes into it."

When asked how she balances her work, social and educational life, she said: "Honestly, that has been another big challenge for me because, in January this year I was in school doing my Master's. I had my routine, it was structured. I would go to Jamaica for the three or four races a year for the Jamaican championship and it was very calm.

"Then I went into Formula Woman, and I realised if I want to throw myself into this dream, I have to do it. All or nothing.

"So, I took a year off from school and I left my job and I told them, 'Listen, I'm going for it.'"

Misir is the first Caribbean motorsport driver in her field. She said: "As the first woman from the Caribbean to come out of that, it's been such an honour because I've had such an impression on people.

"When I go back to Jamaica, so many women, kids, and girls come to me and say: 'I want to race too.'"

"And they see that it's possible. Before there was such a stigma and it seemed impossible. And me being able to open the door and show the younger generation that just because it seems impossible it doesn't mean it is."

"If you always do what you can, you'll never be more than you are."

When asked what diversity in the sport is like, Misir said: "It's already such a hard transition to go as a woman into a male-dominated sport and to have to add diversity to that.

"It just makes it such a bigger obstacle. But I'm really hoping to show that it's not as intimidating as it looks. And yes, the racing world is like a shark tank. It can be, but it's nothing that's impossible. If you put your foot down, it will happen.

"I would have to say Lewis Hamilton is doing such an amazing job. I've always found him such a great person to follow behind and follow his steps. I have always admired him for his modesty, respect for others and gratitude and never losing where he has come from."

Misir shares her ambitions for the future. "I would love to get into the GT3 series and get further into my career, but my focus is mainly on the process right now and just working as hard as I can to make sure I'm learning every day," she adds.

"Start making the right decisions, find out what kind of education you need to get there, it's all about just not giving up."

Full article: https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12430/12723266/black-history-month-sara-misir-changed-career-after-fracturing-her-skull-and-was-first-female-caribbean-to-race-for-formula-woman

Could the Formula 1 Title Be Heading to a Woman Soon?

Formula 1 is experiencing a resurgence after years in the doldrums.

The golden age of Formula 1, from Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, seemed a long while ago around 2010. The racing had become predictable, overtaking limited, and the sport felt as if it were perhaps stagnating. Fast forward a decade, and we have genuine excitement and progression.

New tracks have helped breathe fresh life into the sport, and exciting young drivers battling at the top of the driver's table look set to define the future direction. Whilst the legend Lewis Hamilton hunts a record eighth world title, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, and Charles Leclerc are all looking to make their names on the track. Verstappen is the favourite for the 2022 drivers title in Ladbrokes Formula 1 betting odds, but as the recent Austrian Grand Prix proved, there are a handful of constructors capable of putting their drivers on the podium.

For true progression, the sport needs one more thing; female drivers. A female driver hasn't started a race since the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix when ESPN explained Lella Lombardi of Italy finished 12th. Lombardi was a pioneer of the sport, finishing as high as sixth in Spain in 1975. Before her, Maria Teresa de Filippis became the first woman to finish a Formula 1 race, coming 10th in Belgium in 1958. Are we about to see change in the sport?

Recently, Colombia's Tatiana Calderon did look set to reach Formula 1; she reached Formula 2 driving for Arden and three seasons as a test driver for Alfa Romeo. However, instead of making that final step, she's shifted to IndyCar for the 2022 campaign. Jessica Hawkins is a development driver with the Aston Martin Formula 1 team, and whilst her endgame isn't a role on the circuits, she does believe being a role model for young female drivers is important.

"If I can be of any help to young women that feel like motorsport is a male-dominated sport, which it is still viewed as, if it helps them get into motorsport, then it's really nice to have been a part of that and show that females are welcome within motorsport and they do have a role here," she said.

The 27-year-old recently became the first female to win a UK touring car race, finishing ahead of an all-male field at Oulton Park in the final TCR race. Despite the win, she said she got no additional satisfaction from beating the men. "I just see everyone as equal," she explained. "Don't get me wrong, it was nice to walk away with being the first female to win a touring car race in the UK, that was lovely, but it wouldn't have made a difference if I was racing all women or all men. It felt good either way.

With Hawkins building her reputation and other female drivers across the UK (and globally) coming to the fore, could we see a female Formula 1 driver anytime soon? Alice Powell, Tatiana Calderon and Carmen Jordan have raced in Formula 1 junior categories, but there's currently no female driver in Formula 2 or 3. That means it could be some time before we see a female driver trying to get past Charles Leclerc, but make no mistake; it will eventually happen. It is just a case of when.

For news from the Formula Women Team, please pay regular visits to our news section.

Formula Woman GT Cup Team Announce The Trade Centre Group as Title Sponsors

• Formula Woman announces title sponsors of their GT Cup Team

• The Trade Centre Group secure title sponsorship of DTO Motorsport run team

• Fastest growing car supermarket group expand their support of Formula Woman

• First GT Cup race for the team at Snetterton on 11th and 12th June

Formula Woman (Today) announced The Trade Centre Group as title sponsor of the Formula Woman GT Cup team and revealed their two DTO McLaren 570 GT4 race cars at Silverstone, stunningly liveried in Trade Centre Wales and Trade Centre UK colours.

The Trade Centre Group are the UK's largest and fastest-growing used car supermarket. Founded in 1999, The Trade Centre Group prides itself on providing the highest quality used cars at the very best value. They sell over 40,000 used cars every year, with the added convenience of being able to drive away in your perfect car in just one hour.

Their purpose is to provide the most convenient car shopping experience for value-driven customers, giving exceptional customer service along with conveniently located superstores in Wales and England. Buying a used car from Trade Centre Wales or Trade Centre UK is even easier!”

Since the selection of the six winners in March, the two DTO Motorsport McLaren’s have been prepared for this year’s GT Cup Championship. Meanwhile, the six Formula Woman drivers have been undertaking an intensive testing and preparation programme in the DTO Motorsport BMWs and McLaren race cars to prepare them for their first race at Snetterton on the 11th and 12thJune.

Formula Woman is a competition designed to introduce women to motorsport with little or no experience. Over 1000 women entered this year’s competition and the final shoot out took place in Sweden on a frozen lake in March this year.

Graeme Glew, Founder and CEO of Formula Woman commented, “We are delighted to announce The Trade Centre Group as our title sponsor. They currently supply Formula Woman with two BMW training cars which have been used throughout the competition. They recognised that the opportunity to take the title sponsorship of our race team was a great fit for their brand principles as diversity and inclusion are very important to them.”

“A lot of The Trade Centre Group’s success has been driven by television advertising and see Formula Woman as a further opportunity to expand their reach and visibility as well as promoting inclusion in motorsport.”

Tim Carr, CEO of The Trade Centre Group commented, “We are excited to extend our support of Formula Woman, as the main sponsor for the 2022 GT Cup Team. For The Trade Centre, our sponsorship is focused on providing opportunities for women in a male-dominated sport."

"I’d like to personally congratulate Erika, Jodie, Anushriya, Sara, Steph and Amy for the grit and determination they’ve already shown to win their places in the Formula Woman team. Everyone at The Trade Centre will be following the team’s GT Cup success with interest as racing commences at Snetterton in June”.

Drivers
Erika Hoffmann (Canada), Jodie Sloss (Scotland), Anushriya Gulati (India) and Sara Misir (Jamaica)

Test Drivers
Steph Sore (England) and Amy Riley (England)