Aston Martin ambassador Jess Hawkins is dropping a truth bomb that could shake up the world of Formula 1 forever. She’s absolutely convinced the next female driver to race in the sport is coming, and she says it’s just a matter of time.
Hawkins, who also heads up F1 Academy, recently opened up on the Road to Success podcast about the long drought of women in Grand Prix racing. Right now, only five women have ever even tried to qualify for a race, and just two have actually competed in a championship event since 1976.
But this former W Series driver isn’t letting history discourage her. She boldly declared that she believes another female driver will hit the track, and she addressed the big elephant in the room—physical strength.
“I’m absolutely convinced women are strong enough for Formula 1,” Hawkins said. She admitted that her own neck was sore after driving an F1 car for half a race distance, but she explained that’s not a gender thing. Even the male pros feel it when they step back in after a break.
Hawkins pointed out that she hadn’t been racing in F2 or F3 right before, which made the physical challenge tougher. Still, she insisted that with the right preparation, a woman could absolutely handle a full race.
The rise of platforms like F1 Academy, which Hawkins is deeply involved in, is giving female drivers the chance they need to prove themselves. She’s convinced the next breakthrough is on the horizon.
So, are we just a few years away from seeing history repeat itself on the F1 grid? Only time will tell, but Hawkins isn’t backing down from her prediction.
