What is F1 for girls called

So you're asking what F1 for girls is called. Honestly, it's a fair question, and the answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. There's no official "Women's F1 Championship" with a snazzy name. But the closest thing we've got right now? That's the F1 Academy. It launched in 2023, and it's basically a spec series built specifically to get female drivers ready for the big leagues. Think of it as the training ground, not the final destination.

Before F1 Academy came along, there was the W Series. That ran from 2019 to 2022, and while it was cool, it kinda floated on its own. F1 Academy? It's plugged straight into the F1 system. Every single one of the ten F1 teams backs a driver and a car each season. That's a huge deal. It means these women get visibility and a real path forward, right inside the F1 world.

What is the F1 Academy?

The F1 Academy is a single-seater championship, and yeah, it's only for women. Formula 1 created it because, let's face it, motorsport has a serious gender gap problem. They're trying to fix that at the grassroots level. Every car is identical - Tatuus T421 chassis with Autotecnica engines. So it's all about driver talent, not who has the biggest budget. These races run alongside F1, F2, and F3 weekends, which is massive exposure for the drivers.

Here's what makes it tick:

• All-female driver lineup: Only women can race. Period.
• F1 team backing: Each of the 10 F1 teams picks a driver to represent them. That means mentorship, resources, and a direct line to the top.
• Scholarship program: Win the championship, and you get a fully paid drive in Formula 3 the next season. That's the ladder to F1, right there.
• Cost-controlled: Racing is stupid expensive. This series tries to keep costs down so money isn't the only thing holding women back.

What was the W Series?

The W Series was the first big all-female single-seater championship. It started in 2019, running its own race weekends, often with DTM or British GT. It gave female drivers a platform, sure. But money problems killed it after 2022. Then F1 Academy stepped in to fill the gap, but smarter.

So, how do they stack up?

"F1 Academy is not just a racing series; it is a structured pathway for female drivers to reach the pinnacle of motorsport. By integrating directly with Formula 1 teams and events, we are creating a sustainable ecosystem that nurtures talent from the ground up." — Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy

Are there any female drivers in F1 currently?

As of 2024? Nope. Not a single one on the grid. The last woman to actually start an F1 race was Lella Lombardi, way back in 1976. That's wild, right? But there are women climbing the ladder. Jamie Chadwick, who won the W Series three times, is racing in Indy NXT in the US. Then you've got Doriane Pin (backed by Mercedes) and Abbi Pulling (Alpine) in F1 Academy, both gunning for that F3 scholarship. F1 Academy is supposed to speed this whole process up. The dream? A woman on the F1 grid. Maybe soon.

Is there a women's version of F1?

Here's the thing. There's no official "women's F1" because Formula 1 itself is open to everyone. The rules don't say "men only." It's just that, historically, hardly any women have made it. So series like F1 Academy and W Series exist to fix that imbalance. They're not "women's F1" – they're development championships. The whole point is to get women ready for the regular, mixed-gender F1 ladder. Integration, not segregation. F1 Academy is like a specialized training camp, not a separate league.

How can a girl start racing to reach F1?

If a girl wants to get to F1, the path is basically the same as for any driver, but with more support systems in place now. Here's the rough checklist:

• Start in karting: Get into competitive karting around age 6-8. National and international stuff.
• Enter Formula 4: Move to single-seaters in F4 championships (British F4, Italian F4) when you're about 15-16.
• Compete in F1 Academy: Use this as a stepping stone. Get experience, get noticed. Aim for that F3 scholarship.
• Join a junior program: Get into an F1 team's junior academy – Ferrari Driver Academy, Mercedes Junior Programme, something like that. You need the money and the training.
• Climb the ladder: Formula 3, then Formula 2. Finally, earn that F1 super license.
• Seek sponsors: Racing costs a fortune. You need sponsors, partners, anyone who believes in you enough to write a check.

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