The question continuously rears its ugly head—who will be the next woman to race in Formula One? Several candidates are currently on the path to Formula One, but some have a better chance than others. Jake Sanson explores the career paths of ten drivers with the best opportunity to make the dream a reality.
Social media has been asking the question for years: will there ever be another woman to race in Formula One? The answer is simple – of course there will. More girls are taking up karting, more young women are starting their motorsport careers on and off the circuit than ever before, and the sport has never had more interest from women of all ages. So a woman becoming a Formula One driver is now looking an inevitable prospect. But when?
The Rise and Fall of the W Series and the Inception of F1 Academy
The rise and fall of the W Series, followed by the recent inception of F1 Academy, has made the topic more vibrant and prominent than ever before. There is now rising pressure to make it happen, coupled with almost toxic scrutiny against the candidates trying to succeed. People expect results for female racing drivers to prove themselves ‘deserving’ of a chance.
But in my opinion, they are conveniently forgetting in the same breath that whilst 16 drivers in 8 years have emerged from Formula 2 to Formula 1, the past three years have not seen the Formula 2 champion progress to F1 the following season, and only 3 of the past champions are currently active on the Grand Prix grid.
So why are women in the sport being assessed with differing standards of their ability than their male counterparts? Some would argue that it’s because they have not shown enough ability to be given the chance—this, in my view, is a naïve and biased argument. I would argue that the true context of their ability and the benchmark previously set by their male counterparts doesn’t tell the whole story.
Recent Developments in Gender Diversity in Motorsport
Let’s also remind ourselves that it’s only this year that drivers such as Sophia Floersch and Chloe Chambers have been handed tests in FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 to assess how the categories can suit the development of women and men. Suppose there is a difference in stamina, strength and understanding between men and women athletes as they progress. In that case, it’s disappointing that the sport’s taken so long to consider that the difference needs to be addressed in car design. Still, it is also encouraging that it is a prevalent topic enough that action has finally been taken.
Sadly, the closest we’ve seen to it happening can be found in the F1 23 video game, where the fictional Braking Point character Callie Meyer was portrayed as a Formula 2 hero ready to step up to Formula One as an equal. Whilst we’re still some time away from the first real-world example five decades ago, it was an important tool to demonstrate the open-minded attitude that needs to become commonplace across the sport – the concept that it will happen, not could.
The Importance of Genuine Opportunities for Women in Motorsport
The last thing I want to promote here is putting a woman into an F1 seat for the sake of it, as that would do more harm than good. But some talents have proved that the potential is there. Ten years ago, Susie Wolff drove for Williams in free practice at Hockenheim, and Tatiana Calderon raced in Formula 2 with connections to Sauber that resulted in a test drive.
Danica Patrick famously led the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500 during her career Stateside. Williams supported Jamie Chadwick on her way to three W Series crowns that allowed her to race with Andretti in Indy NXT. Chadwick is now a winner in her second year – proving beyond all doubt, in my opinion, that her talent was never just a gimmick, but she may have missed her F1 shot.
Talent and money don’t automatically send you straight to Formula One – there has to be something extra special, something that stands a driver out from the crowd, whether it’s the kind of calibre that puts you into a potential Senna-Hamilton-Verstappen discussion, such as both Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman are being described, or with the commercial backing from the right people, such as Zhou Guanyu and Logan Sargeant who were both very talented but arguably were financially supported better than others to give them that extra credence to make it happen.
The Challenge of Securing F1 Seats for Deserving Female Drivers
You could even make the latter argument to justify the continuing presence of Lance Stroll, Sergio Perez, and even Daniel Ricciardo—their backing or brand potential ensures their seats. And with only 20 available seats, it’s hard to find room for a deserving female driver—but not impossible…..
So, of the women striving to be the first to race in Formula One since Lella Lombardi, which ten have the best chance of making it? This doesn’t necessarily make them the best in terms of ability. Still, combining talent with potential and financial backing with the ‘X-factor’ makes a sustainable Grand Prix driver.
Having watched all ten of these athletes up close, I believe they could make the Formula One grid sooner or later, but there will be some determining factors that either accelerate or prevent this.
Sophia Floersch (Germany)
The furthest up the ladder, the FIA Formula 3 driver has made the most remarkable comeback from her Macau accident and has grown mentally and physically. Her resurgent drives in F3 have become a staple of the races these days, as she regularly turns a tough qualifying session in a performance laden with overtaking moves in arguably the most competitive Formula 3 roster in history.
Her no-nonsense attitude should also put her in good stead. She is resolute and defiant against critics but not in a manner that diminishes her credibility. Alpine has backed her to continue the journey, and if she can adapt to the Formula 2 car with the right preparation and funding and be given a strong chance at a good team, her versatility and strong work ethic could be what steer her forward.
The biggest knockback is her age in comparison to her rivals—she isn’t exactly old at 23, but the pressure of having the likes of Bearman and Antonelli discussing race drives in their teens won’t help. It’s difficult to admit that time is running out, but then her career path has been plagued by lack of funding, marketing and promotional obstacles, and, of course, that crash at Macau.
But the fact that she is still here and still fighting in Formula 3 speaks volumes. She was a defiant objector to the W Series, refusing to compete in a championship against other women. Her mentality is sound, and her determination is worthy of a Formula One chance.
Juju Noda (Japan)
With more column inches being written about her in Japan than any of her opponents in Super Formula, it’s clear that ‘Juju’ has become a real icon – she’s the first Japanese female to race at the nation’s motorsport pinnacle, and she is also the youngest ever driver in the category. And while she’s had her critics in her debut season for running mainly at the back and a few controversies in the past to shake off, there is still an extreme argument to suggest it could work.
On paper, at only 18, she has plenty of time to prove herself, and the car is challenging to master. But remember that Liam Lawson described Super Formula as ‘faster than Formula 2’, and ‘sometimes it even feels like F1 in some corners’. Theo Pourchaire struggled at Suzuka and then bailed out of the Impul team for good, having been beaten in the race by Noda…..
If Juju does take a few years to adapt and starts winning, then she’s in the closest single-seater to F1 with the ability to win. Her media strength could tempt the likes of Honda to back her all the way.
The marketing potential is massive as she takes advantage of her home audience so that the funding could materialise. And if she’s good enough in Super Formula, she could be good enough for Formula 1. It could be the most left-field success story of the ten, but stranger things have happened in this sport.
Abbi Pulling (Great Britain)
Having watched and commented on her becoming a double national TKM champion as the only girl in the British Kart Championships, I believe wholeheartedly that Abbi has the raw talent to make it as a Grand Prix driver. Her early success in the W Series, her rise to the championship lead in F1 Academy, and her race-winning ability in British F4 only add to that hype. But some people I’ve spoken to are still not convinced.
This is a fundamental issue when speaking to ‘people in the know’ regarding women trying to climb the ladder. So let’s remind everyone that in her karting days, she had less of a budget than Lewis Hamilton and was still a double British champion. It took her a lot longer to gain the backing of an F1 team – Alpine. And this is the first year she has started to look like a relentless winner regularly.
In my mind, her next step is to get funding for a blue chip. So if Puma are reading this – don’t miss this opportunity. An excellent £25 million investment would see her gain all the testing, development and training needed to move through FRECA, F3 and F2 and maybe even do a year in Super Formula if required. And think – £25m now will almost certainly become £250m later when she becomes the megastar she’s destined to be. To waste the chance would be stupidity, especially when Pulling has the firepower to back up the hype.
Ella Hakkinen (Finland)
Looking at the motorsport culture at present, Hakkinen might be the best prospect heading into the next few years. Not because she’s better than the others on the list but mainly because she definitely could be. There are so many reasons why young Ella can’t be overlooked for a potential shot at Formula One in the future, and the first clue is in the name.
Daughter of the two-time F1 world champion Mika, 13-year-old Ella is well placed to learn from one of the best how to win and lose and gain good marketing support from the likes of Mercedes when the time is right. She’s already winning finals in the Champions of the Future Academy, which is a fantastic step in the right direction.
Also, their father, Mika, has the ability and resources to rush her through to the FIA Karting route. He has not yet done so, which suggests he knows more about the mindset of a young kart racer and, of course, the agility and trajectory of his own daughter’s potential. Bearman never raced in FIA Karting, and he turned out fine.
So many sons of great drivers have gone through the karting world and struggled to succeed in both karting and cars based purely on the name and the pressure that comes with it. But whilst the wins could add to the pressure, a Finnish racing driver’s general resilience and calm nature will almost certainly be a weapon rather than a weakness. It’s worth a trip to the bookmakers – she could be the one in ten years.
Luna Fluxa (Spain)
As the youngest sibling of the Fluxa family, Luna will inevitably follow Lorenzo and Lucas into cars very soon; when she does, you’d better be ready. Her stats are already groundbreaking at a very young age – first ever female final winner in IAME Euro, and first ever overall champion as a Mini X30 racer, now competing in Prema colours in karting as a Mercedes junior.
Having been pushed around for a while now in OK Senior, she’s ready to step up to cars, which will come imminently as she turns 15 this summer. The financial backing being firmly in place will also help, and not many women before her will be better prepared in testing mileage and simulator hours in general. Considering how the likes of Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc became stars from karting with almost daily track time and development, Luna’s story is similar to the one from the word ‘go’.
It’s that level of intensity that makes her an equal to the men around her, and like Sophia, she has never believed in the concept of racing only against fellow women. So expect her to push the boundaries in F4, Eurocup 3 and Formula Regional in years to come. Only a couple of women have won races at the F4 national level in the last decade worldwide, but Luna is the first person I am utterly convinced to have what it takes to win the title in her rookie year in cars. If she does it, then it’s written in the stars.
Bianca Bustamante (Philippines)
McLaren’s F1 Academy ace is arguably the most famous of all the drivers in the paddock, and whilst you don’t want it all to be about marketing and funding, one can’t deny the genius of the work she’s doing off-track and on. But for those who are not convinced about her ability and raw talent, it’s all about taking things into genuine context. The results don’t tell the whole story.
At the IAME Asia Cup at Sepang in 2020, I witnessed her incredible racecraft with arguably little race experience compared to her competition, and considering her heritage – the Philippines not being a nation famed for either racing pedigree or race tracks to change that – her strength, patience, discipline and phenomenal reactions were enough to convince me that here was a talent worth keeping an eye on. It must be revered compared to her peers in F1 Academy. She has none of the European karting experience or the money that pushed her there in the first place, and yet she’s winning.
The two things that set her apart as a special commodity are fairly straightforward—firstly, she has worked smart and hard to raise a commercial profile that will ensure she’s well supported both at home and globally. Second, her rate of development, considering her lack of experience, is actually phenomenal. The next two years will be crucial, but if she keeps improving, there’s no reason to suggest she can’t be a megastar.
Klara Kowalczyk (Poland)
Klara soaks up knowledge like a sponge, the kind of talent that could end up hitting a sweet spot when her karting days are behind her. She’s learned in the best schools of racing wisdom, too – both at the CRG factory outfit and the Ricky Flynn Motorsport team, the squad that gave us Zhou Guanyu, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, to name just a few.
What also makes Klara a particular star is her personality. If Daniel Ricciardo is the gift that keeps giving in Formula 1 personality-wise, then Kowalczyk has the enthusiasm, passion and engaging amiability to serve her well. Regarding her approach to teamwork and sponsorship acquisition, she should have little trouble convincing people she’s the real deal. The fun she adds to the paddock will be infectious, too, and the pros would be cueing up to work with somebody of such a cheery disposition whilst also having the fire and passion for speed.
Similar to Bustamante, her development rate has also been extraordinary. Not many drivers over the years have made such a turn of improvement as she has in the last three seasons, and if that kind of maturity can extend to her car racing career, then it won’t be long before the silverware flies home with her. There’s a lot to be said for the kind of young athlete you want to work with, and Kowalczyk will make many more friends than enemies as she climbs the ladder.
Doriane Pin (France)
Given the short time that Doriane has been racing, what she has accomplished so far is nothing short of exceptional. Nobody else can say they’ve represented their nation in the FIA Motorsport Games in the karting slalom, then from Clio Cup to a dominant Ferrari Challenge Europe champion and then scored a podium in WEC, all before she turned 20.
Her switch to single-seaters has been comparatively late, but she won F4 in Southeast Asia and the UAE immediately and was a strong early leader in F1 Academy. You can’t win that fast in single-seaters without pure raw talent. The key to continuing that good fortune is how quickly and consistently success can come with Iron Dames in Formula Regional. People are quick to judge by one day’s results rather than the long list of successes that have put a driver in the seat they deserve – especially when they’re female.
Beitske Visser is a case study I hope will remind me that you can’t rip privilege away on talent as fast as you’ve given it based purely on results. Visser was kicked out of Red Bull in a car she could never do well with. Pin has a feral pace similar to Michele Mouton’s and could have a similar amount of support in their native France to guide her. Mercedes thinks she’s the real deal, and the hope is that that will be enough, as many would argue she’s currently the best of the ten on this list.
Alisha Palmowski (Great Britain)
Before 2024, Alisha Palmowski was only really familiar to TOCA paddock fans as a Ginetta Junior star. But in much the same way as Sophia Floersch and Jamie Chadwick did before her, Alisha has converted that original fresh speed into a single-seater star with bags of potential. And as if that wasn’t enough, she has the perfect driver coach to make the success flow like river water.
Sarah Moore never had the budget to be a Formula 1 driver, but to this day, she’s the only woman ever to win in Ginetta Junior and be an open LGBTQ podium finisher in the F1 paddock. Her resolve and determination have already rubbed off on Palmowski, and becoming a GB4 winner in her maiden weekend as a single-seater driver tells you everything you need to know about how strong she could become. Her pace in testing also tells of a racer who has figured out how to be quick instantly.
In the same way that Deagen Fairclough and Luke Browning are spoken of in hushed and revered tones as exceptional prodigies without cash, Palmowski is the third in the ‘trilogy’. If there’s any justice in the world, she’ll join them overseas and show the world what she can do. She’s also probably the most engaging personality of any of the competitors in the list, and that makes her a sponsor’s dream. The quiet confidence and authoritative self-belief make her F1 material above all else – it’s addictive and inspiring, and it won’t be long before everybody else figures that out.
Nicole Havrda (Canada)
Attitude shows you a lot about an athlete’s raw character. Havrda has always been open-minded, hard-working and resourceful, which is terrific considering her tender years.
Her brilliant social media ethos sets her apart from many of her peers in American single-seaters, and the engineers who have worked with her have remarked to me that her team player persona makes her the kind of driver you want to keep motivating. It’s a choice to be a specific type of personage, and the choices Nicole is making for herself should keep her at the centre of American motorsport’s attention. She’s also a driver who’s decided that the F1 Academy isn’t on her radar, so IndyCar is far more likely a career path.
Still carving out a map for herself in Formula Regional, she’s presently fighting in the top three with consistent victories. The transition to Indy racing should be pretty straightforward for somebody of Havrda’s intellect, too, and her ability to learn a circuit and a car has always stood her in good stead. She embraces new experiences and challenges with positivity even when things are going dreadfully against her, and they have. Whilst her name isn’t prominent yet, she’s already linked to Mercedes-Benz in her native Canada, a connection she very much initiated and developed. So expect the future to be hers to command in the years ahead.
