John N
Racing has been a male-dominated sport since its inception, and women haven’t had much of a chance. Only 20 seats are available in F1 and thousands of young drivers try to enter. Hardly anyone gets in, so it’s challenging to do so. Since women only make up 2% in motorsport, according to statistics, the chances of any of them making it are very slim.
F1 is at the pinnacle of racing, where some of the world’s fastest drivers take part in the quest to be the best of the best. Though there are no rules against women competing in F1 or any FIA or motorsports competitions, motorsports do not have men’s and women’s divisions, meaning that both can compete together. Unlike most other sports, however, physical ability isn’t everything in motor racing—a large part depends on the car—so the differences between sexes aren’t as pronounced as in other sports. In principle, there are equal conditions for both men and women to run, but this hasn’t been the case in reality.
There are several reasons for the low participation of females in Formula one. The reasons include;
- Unfavorable Ratio Quota
The ratio of men to women entering racing in junior categories is heavily skewed in one direction. It is estimated that the ratio is 98 to 2 in favor of men, so it is tough for any of the 2% women to reach F1 since the competition is very high. As there are only 20 seats available, even as a man, the chances to reach F1 are extremely low, so representing only 2% of the total, they are even lower.
- Lack of Interest
There are still fewer girls interested in motorsports, either by nature or because society does not encourage them enough, or maybe both. Of this percentage, women tend to perform better in lower categories such as karting, but the number drops dramatically as they get closer to F1.
- Formal entry requirements
To compete in Formula 1, you have to be a paid-up member of the FIA, and there are formal entry requirements. You have to have started racing at a young age, accumulated points for championships and prizes won and competed in the lower levels of F1 racing, such as Formula 3 or GP2.
In addition to this, you need a super-license from the FIA – something that cannot be bought. It has to be earned through achievements in other classes of motorsport. Only then will the FIA consider you for entry into F1.
So it’s clear that any budding racer is going to spend most of their life preparing for F1 and accruing the right points and experience before they could even start to think about getting a place on an F1 team.
- Lack of Sponsorship
Sponsors, in particular, seem to have found it difficult to take a chance on a woman because none have been able to prove themselves winners. This is not due to a lack of skill, willingness, fitness, or an aversion to risks. Rather it is because there have been no sponsors who have dared to believe in a woman and provide her with the budget she and her team need for a successful season.
The world of Formula 1 is still largely dominated by men, with no women racing in the top competitions. This is not to say there have not been some notable exceptions. Maria Teresa De Filippis was the first woman to drive in a championship race, competing in the 1958 Belgian Grand Prix. However, it wasn’t until 1992 that a woman would compete for more than a single season—Lella Lombardi raced for six seasons in the 1970s and became one of the few women to score points (finishing sixth at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix). Since then, only three other women have competed in F1—Desiré Wilson (who failed to qualify for races on multiple occasions), Giovanna Amati (who also failed to qualify on several occasions), and most recently Simona De Silvestro in 2015.
