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Lewis Hamiltons W Series concern shared as female drivers chase F1 dream

EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Bovy, of the all-female Iron Dames endurance racing team, insists ability is not standing in the way of women getting into Formula 1, but opportunity

[BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - JULY 30: Race winner Alice Powell of Great Britain and Click2Drive Bristol Street Motors Racing (C), Second placed Jamie Chadwick of Great Britain and Jenner Racing (L) and Third placed Beitske Visser of Netherlands and Sirin Racing (R) celebrate on the podium during the W Series Round 5 race at Hungaroring on July 30, 2022 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)]

Race winner Alice Powell, second-placed Jamie Chadwick and third-placed Beitske Visser on the podium after the latest W Series race in Hungary(Image: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton has added his weight to calls for drivers in the all-female W Series to be given the chance to advance their motorsport careers.

The ground-breaking series was launched in 2019 with the aim of being a launch pad for women in single-seater racing. The hope was that champions and the best-performing drivers would move on to Formula 3 or Formula 2, putting them in the frame for a drive in Formula 1 in the future. The last female to compete in an F1 race was way back in the mid-1970s.

But more than three years since W Series was born, question marks are being raised over the progression opportunities it offers. Jamie Chadwick has won both completed seasons so far 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic and is odds-on to win a third this year, but a move to at least F3 is not assured for 2023.

READ MORE: Motorsport history made as all-female team wins at legendary endurance race

Competitors in the series have support in high places, with Hamilton taking the time to visit the paddock at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion is concerned about the lack of opportunities coming the way of the likes of Chadwick.

Its great that we have the W Series, but we as a sport we need to do way more for young girls getting into the sport, he said. For these women, theres no progression from W Series. Its been three years now.

Former W Series racer Sarah Bovy agrees. The Belgian, now a sports car racer with the all-female Iron Dames team, was a reserve driver in the inaugural season of W Series in 2019, competing at three race weekends.

Initially, the point of the series was to help as many women as possible in one year to gain experience and then go back into other motorsport, she told Daily Star Sport.

[Sarah Bovy of the all-female Iron Dames team]

Sarah Bovy of the all-female Iron Dames team

Even as a reserve driver, the few practices I had working with the Formula 3 cars [which W Series cars are based on], working with the engineers, understanding how the car was working, had a huge positive impact on me, so I will be hugely grateful for W Series.

But staying there for so many seasons is not helping. I really hope it can happen [that they can jump to the next step]. W Series shouldnt be an end, it should be the start of something else.

Bovy, part of the Iron Dames team which won their class at the recent 24 Hours of Spa, is sure we will see a woman racing in F1 in the next few years. The wait, she insists, is not a reflection of the ability of female drivers, but of opportunity and timing, given there are just 20 spots available on the grid.

We make a lot of noise about it but there are 20 drivers in Formula 1. There are so many other drivers making great achievements in other disciplines, said Bovy, 33. I do believe that when F1 decides they want a woman in it, they will have one. At the moment, talent and ability is not the reason why a driver is going to Formula 1.

Do you think we will see a female driver in F1 in the near future? Have your say in the comments section below.

[Jamie Chadwick is on course for a third W Series title]

Jamie Chadwick is on course for a third W Series title(Image: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Dont understand me wrong, they [Formula 1 drivers] all have huge talent, but I strongly believe that there are at least a thousand very talented drivers who could make it to Formula 1 and be competitive. I believe we have women talented enough to drive a Formula 1 car. The issue is not coming from there, its the access. You have to have so many factors coming together.

Its not just a question of money and talent, its a question of timing. Weve seen so many young drivers arriving at the wrong place at the wrong moment, be rejected [by F1 teams] and then we see them again in WEC [World Endurance Championship] or Formula E doing some great stuff.

In my opinion, a woman will go to Formula 1 when its the right moment for Formula 1. Im not worried about that, Im sure its going to happen. Meanwhile, its important we show that we have more and more women arriving to motorsport and delivering. Thats what we are trying to do and its happening in other disciplines too. Im very happy about that.

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