‘Women in F1 soon? Only if meteorite hits the earth’

Formula One chief insists the sport is ‘totally dedicated’ to having female drivers on the grid but can’t see it happening within five years without big changes.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo drives a practice session ahead of the 2020 Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which may not host an F1 race next year. Picture: AFP

The chief executive of Formula One has dismissed the idea of women racing in the sport within the next five years – suggesting they would do so only if “some sort of meteorite” hit the earth.

Stefano Domenicali insisted that F1 was “totally dedicated” to getting female drivers on to the grid but that he had to be realistic about the timescale.

The all-female W Series takes place as a support event on some F1 weekends and has the ultimate goal of helping a woman reach motor racing’s highest category. Jamie Chadwick, 24, won the W Series title in the first two seasons and looks on course to make it a hat-trick this year, but despite that she has been unable to secure a seat on the ladder up to F1, with a drive in either Formula Three or Formula Two.

The 57-year-old Domenicali said he had been very happy with the collaboration with the W Series but that more needed to be done from F1’s side.

Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali says he had to be realistic about the timescale of introducing female drivers to the top flight. Picture: Getty Images

“We believe that it is crucial in this moment to try to give the maximum possibility to women to come to Formula One,” Domenicali, the former Ferrari team principal, said.

“We believe that for girls to be at the same level of competition with the guys they need to be at the same, or more or less the same, age when they can start to fight on the track at the level of Formula Two or Formula Three. So we are working on that to see what we can do to improve the system. And you will see soon some action.

“Realistically speaking, I don’t see a girl in Formula One in the next five years unless something like a sort of meteorite comes into the earth. That is very unlikely. But we want to build up the right parameters with the right approach, step by step, for them to start to race against the guys at the right age and in the right car. That’s what we’re working on.”

Domenicali was speaking before this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, which kicks off the second half of the season with nine races in 12 weeks.

Jamie Chadwick won the all-female W Series title in the first two seasons but still has not been able to secure a seat in either Formula Three or Formula Two. Picture: AFP

There has been speculation that there may not be a F1 race at Spa-Francorchamps next year, with the track set either to fall off the calendar completely or be rotated out.

Under the regulations, the maximum number of races a year is 24, up from this season’s 22, and that is the target for next season. Las Vegas will host a new night race next season and South Africa is also tipped to join the calendar. So it may be necessary for some of the more traditional circuits, such as Belgium, to be rotated every few years.

Domenicali refused to be drawn on the issue but joked that he expected the promoters who organise the Belgian Grand Prix to “be in my office a lot this weekend”.

He added: “It’s true that we are working and discussing with other promoters to see if they’re ready for a full commitment next year but I would say the balance is to find a mix of races where we have at least one third in Europe, one third in the Far East and the other third in the Americas and Middle East.

“Of course, we’re talking about business, where investments and financial contribution are very important, but we have always said that the traditional races – that cannot bring the sort of money the others are bringing – have full respect from us. With Belgium, discussions are still on.”

– The Times