Has a girl ever driven in F1

Yeah, women have absolutely driven in Formula 1. Not many, sure—but a handful have actually stepped into those cars and raced. The one most people remember recently is Susie Wolff, who did practice sessions for Williams. But only two women have ever lined up on the grid for a World Championship Grand Prix: Maria Teresa de Filippis and Lella Lombardi. That's it. Two.

Who are the female drivers who have raced in F1?

So officially, five women have entered a Grand Prix weekend. But only two made it to race day—de Filippis and Lombardi. The others? Divina Galica, Desire Wilson, and Giovanna Amati all tried but never qualified. Then you've got Susie Wolff and Jamie Chadwick, who've driven in practice sessions but never actually raced. Close, but no cigar.

Did any woman ever score points in an F1 race?

Believe it or not, yes. Lella Lombardi is the only female driver to score points. She finished 6th at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix—but that race was cut short after a nasty crash, so under the rules back then, half points were handed out. She got 0.5. Sounds tiny, but it's still the only points finish by a woman in F1 history. Weird, right?

Has a woman ever won a Formula 1 race?

Nope. No woman has ever won an F1 World Championship race. But Desire Wilson did win a non-championship race in 1980 at Brands Hatch—the British Aurora F1 thing. Doesn't count in the official records, but still impressive. And Jamie Chadwick? She's been winning races in the W Series like it's nothing.

Who is the most successful female F1 driver statistically?

If you're looking at stats, it's Lella Lombardi. She entered 12 Grands Prix, started 10, and scraped together that 0.5 points. Maria Teresa de Filippis? Entered 5, started 3, zero points. Modern-wise, Susie Wolff has the most official F1 weekend appearances with 4 practice sessions for Williams. Not exactly a roaring success story, but hey.

"It's not about being a female driver; it's about being a driver. The car doesn't know if you are a man or a woman." — Susie Wolff, former Williams F1 test driver.

Why are there so few female F1 drivers?

Honestly? It's a mess of reasons. History, society, the whole system. Motorsport's always been a boys' club, with barely any pathways for women. Fewer girls in junior categories means less talent coming through—and that's partly because opportunities and funding just aren't there. But things are shifting. Initiatives like the F1 Academy and W Series are trying to build a proper ladder. Slow progress, but progress.

Is there a current female driver in F1?

As of 2025, nah. No woman on the grid. But there are women pushing hard in F1 Academy and other series—Jamie Chadwick (three-time W Series champ, now in Indy NXT) and Abbi Pulling (leading the F1 Academy). That Academy's basically the main shot for young girls aiming for F1. Maybe one day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Checklist: How to follow female drivers in motorsport

• Watch the F1 Academy series—it races alongside F1 Grands Prix.
• Follow drivers like Jamie Chadwick, Abbi Pulling, and Jessica Edgar on social media.
• Attend or watch W Series races if you can find them.
• Support initiatives like "Girls on Track" and "Dare to be Different" pushing for more women in motorsport.