Has a female ever won a Formula 1 race

Nope. Not yet, anyway. As of the 2024 season, no female driver has ever won a Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix. Women have competed, sure, but none have made it to the top step of the podium in a championship race. The closest? Maria Teresa de Filippis took second place back in the 1950s, though that was in a non-championship event. Close, but no cigar.

Which women have raced in Formula 1?

Only five women have ever actually started a Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix. The most recent was Giovanna Amati in 1992, and she didn't even qualify for any of her three attempts. Here's who's dared to try:

Worth noting: Desiré Wilson did win a Formula 1 race, but it was the 1980 British Aurora F1 Championship—a national series, not the World Championship. That win makes her the only woman to win a Formula 1 car race at any level. Kinda bittersweet, honestly.

Has a woman ever scored points in F1?

Yeah, actually. Lella Lombardi is the only female driver to score World Championship points. She finished 6th in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix—a race stopped early after a horrific crash. Because of the shortened race, only half points were awarded, so Lombardi got 0.5 points. That's it. That's the only points a woman's ever scored in F1 history.

Why are there so few women in F1?

It's complicated. People argue about this all the time. Here's what matters:

• Physical demands: F1 cars pull crazy G-forces—up to 5-6G under braking and cornering. You need insane neck and core strength. Women can build that, sure, but average physiological differences mean it's tougher to reach elite levels without really specialized training.
• Lack of a pipeline: For decades, hardly any girls got into karting, which is where F1 drivers start. That's changing now with stuff like the F1 Academy and W Series.
• Funding and sponsorship: Motorsport costs a fortune. Female drivers have always struggled to get the same sponsorship as men. It's unfair, but it's real.
• Cultural barriers: The sport's got this deeply ingrained male culture. Can be pretty unwelcoming or discouraging for women. No sugarcoating that.

Could a woman win an F1 race in the future?

Absolutely. Things are shifting fast. The F1 Academy launched in 2023—it's a female-only championship meant to get young women into the F1 feeder system. The winner gets a fully funded seat in the Formula Regional European Championship, which is basically a direct stepping stone to F1.

And drivers like Jamie Chadwick (three-time W Series champ) and Iron Dames driver Doriane Pin? They're proving women can compete at high levels. Give them the right opportunity, funding, and car performance, and it's totally plausible we'll see a woman win an F1 race within the next decade. Maybe sooner.

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