First Female Drivers to Participate in Formula 1 Since 1976

For the first time since 1976, Formula 1 organizers have expressed interest in including female drivers, according to Bloomberg.

According to the agency, in 2023, drivers will be able to participate in the F1 Academy training program and races. They will be selected from talented participants in karting and junior racing series.

Candidates are expected to complete an intensive training course in modified F4 cars. Afterward, they will first appear in Formula 2 and Formula 3, and a few years later in Formula 1.

The 2023 season is set to feature 21 races with five teams participating, each with three cars. The payment for the cars will be made on a shared basis, with Formula 1 contributing half of the cost ($156,000), while the other half will be covered either by participants or their sponsors.

The schedule and list of drivers for the competition have yet to be announced. Bloomberg asserts that most likely, the focus will be on young female drivers from Europe. Among the potential candidates, the agency mentions 18-year-old Maya Wegh, who became the first woman in the Ferrari racing academy, and her peer, French karting champion Dorian Pin.