As the all-female F1 academy launched last weekend, Susie Wolff, who heads up the series, has warned that it could be a decade before there is a female Formula 1 driver on the grid.
The F1 academy will see female drivers race cars powered by a 174 horsepower engine, with the series designed to help women “progress to Formula 3” and “join the road to F1”.
With Formula 1 one of the most competitive sports to enter, it’s difficult for anyone to rise into one of only 20 seats on the grid.
To this day, not a single driver Formula 1 driver has been female, although there have been women in senior positions in the sport, most notably Claire Williams, who was a regular face in the pit lane for many years.
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“I believe it’s eight to 10 years away from happening,” Susie Wolff said.
“That’s not just because we are lacking the female talent pool and lacking those who progress through the sport, but also because of the realisation that getting to F1 is incredibly tough.
“It’s tough for all of the male drivers
“There are only 20 spots on the grid and that’s why it is going to take time.”
Wolff’s commitment to getting more women into motorsport was highlighted during a recent track day with her young son.
Highlighting the lack of representation, Wolff pointed out how out of all the children on the track, only one was a girl, stating how this shows more must be done to get women interested in going into racing.
“It will be a very slow process and the numbers are not shifting with any great significance,” she said.
“The talent pool is too small, so the best are not rising to the top.
“It is not even questionable that the winner won’t progress in the sport.
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“There is such a passion from Stefano Domenicali and the F1 group to see this be successful.
“It’s not just a box-ticking exercise which is what I have had in many other conversations on diversity.”
The first race of the series will take at the Red Bull Ring in Austria this weekend but it will not be shown live on television, disappointing some fans who had hoped to show their support.