Formula 1 has been a very male-dominated sport since it began decades ago, with the majority of mechanics, bosses and drivers in the sport being men.
Women have had small opportunities in F1 cars, with Toto Wolff’s wife Susie Wolff once taking part in a test for Williams, but these opportunities are nowhere near enough.
Drivers like Jamie Chadwick have dominated the W series in recent years, showing that they have the ability to at least be considered for a place in Formula 1, but there still are no female drivers on the grid.
Chadwick’s Formula 1 dream is not yet dead, as she is set to continue as a part of the Williams driver academy this year, but a move to a full-time race seat still looks unlikely for the 24-year-old.
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Michelle Gatting is one of the female drivers who are paving the way for change in motorsport, racing for Iron Lynx in multiple racing series with reasonable success in recent seasons.
Iron Lynx have been nicknamed the Iron Dames, as the team’s project involves supporting and promoting women in motorsport, which they are currently doing on a large and successful scale.
Gatting has now spoken to the BBC about the Iron Dames project, praising the team for the work they are doing and claiming that it will not be long until a female driver in seen in Formula 1.
“I would have been so happy if this project would have been started ten years ago because that was what was missing,” said the 29-year-old.
“The time will come, you will see in the future females in Hypercar, no doubt about that, females in prototypes as well.
“It will probably be a bit longer for females in Formula 1 but it will happen.”
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The W Series has struggled for funding in recent years which is one of the reasons while women have not been able to shine in motorsport.
The final three rounds of last season were cancelled to allow the organisation to focus on getting funding for 2023, leaving three-time champion Jamie Chadwick to seek a race seat elsewhere.
The female superstar will race in Indy NXT this year with Andretti Autosport, as she looks to prove herself even further in other racing categories after dominating the W Series.