Pivotal women testing for F1 teams

Despite the lack of gender representation in Formula One, there have been a few women testing for Formula One teams.

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The women that have tested for different F1 teams are inspiring and often not talked about enough. Take a look at who these ladies are.

Katherine Legge

Legge tested with Minardi at the Vallelunga Circuit in 2005. At the time of her test, Katherine was 25 years old and considered Britain's top female racer. Before that, she won races in the U.S. Toyota Atlantic series.

Susie Wolff

Susie Wolff signed as a development and test driver for Williams in 2012. She became the first woman to take part in a Formula One race weekend in 22 years when she participated in the first practice session at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 2014. After retiring as a driver in 2015, Wolff took on the role of Team Principal at Venturi Racing in Formula E. Now, she is the managing director of F1 Academy and continues to support women paving their way in the sport.

Tatiana Calderón

Calderón won the EasyKart National Championship in 2005, making her the first woman to win a Colombian national karting title. She was the first woman to stand on the podium in the British Formula 3 International Series and the first to lead a lap in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. She was employed by the Sauber Formula One team (later Alfa Romeo Racing) as a development and test driver from 2018 to 2021. In 2019, she was racing for BWT Arden in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

Jessica Hawkins

Jessica Hawkins became the first woman in almost five years to test a modern Formula 1 car. She completed 26 laps with Aston Martin in an AMR21 race car at the Hungaroring in Budapest. Hawkins is currently preparing to support the team's entry into F1's all-female series, the F1 Academy. Next season, all 10 teams will have a representative driver to run a car in their livery.

While only a few women have tested for Formula One teams, their achievements are significant and inspiring. The lack of gender representation in Formula One is a complex issue that requires more attention and action. Initiatives, such as F1 Academy, are steps in the right direction. However, more needs to be done to provide opportunities for women to compete at the highest level. It is crucial to showcase the history of women's contribution to the sport and to encourage and support young girls aspiring to work in Formula One. With more support and encouragement, we can hope to see more women breaking barriers and making their mark in the sport.