See It. Be It: Forging Your Path In F1

Women have been a part of motorsport since day one and will no longer put up with flying under the radar, and as we embark on exciting seasons, it’s important to recognise all of the incredible female talent within the industry, and to remember that you can do it too! 

Here is a breakdown of some of the different job roles in Formula 1 that you can take on, as well as the brilliant women in those positions, past and present. 

Drivers

First up, we have the drivers and the riders. The first woman to drive in Formula 1 was Maria Teresa de Filippis back in 1948, with Lella Lombardi following soon after, becoming the first woman to score championship points in F1 in 1975. 

After 36 years without a female driver in F1, Susie Wolff took part in two practice sessions for Williams Racing in 2014 at the British Grand Prix and the German Grand Prix. Wolff went on to become managing director of F1 Academy, which launched in 2023, exploding onto the scene as a regular fixture during F1 race weekends from 2024 onwards. 

F1 Academy continues to break barriers, showcasing the astounding talent of young female drivers, such as Doriane Pin, a Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team junior driver, Maya Weug, the first female driver in Ferrari Driver Academy history, and Marta Garcia, F1 Academy’s very first champion. 

How can you get involved? 

• Get involved with karting from the grassroots levels - join a karting club and enter local races 

• Network! Unfortunately, there are financial barriers for most people trying to become a racing driver, so building relationships with sponsors is important

• Show support for female athletes in the industry 

The F1 Academy 2025 Line Up. Via F1 Academy

The Management

Next up, we have the managers and the bosses. While most team principles and bosses are currently men, there have notably been multiple powerful female leaders that have overcome this patriarchal precedent, and stolen the show. 

Monisha Kaltenborn became the first woman to be a team principal in F1, heading the Sauber F1 Team pitwall in 2012 after becoming the company's CEO in 2010. Claire Williams was deputy Team Principal at Atlassian Williams Racing until 2020, seeing the team through tumultuous challenges as she carried on her father Frank’s legacy at the team he built. Susie Wolff, current Managing Director for F1 Academy, has seen her share of managerial success elsewhere too, formerly working as Team Principal for Venturi Racing in ABB FIA Formula E. 

How can you get involved? 

• While these types of roles are not very ‘one shoe fits all’, a background in business and marketing can take you far

• Gain the relevant experience - this can include a vast knowledge in the area you want to work in and a strong set of skills, such as leadership, communication and strategy

• Networking is a huge part of managing at high levels, so don't be afraid to put yourself out there 

• Seek promotion! Good things can take time, so try and climb the job ladder where you can

The Masterminds: Women In STEM! 

As we see an exciting rise in the amount of women pursuing jobs in STEM, it’s only right to highlight the female race engineers who are breaking stereotypes.

Laura Müller has just made history by becoming the first woman ever to work as a race engineer in F1, partnering with Esteban Ocon at MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. This comes after a successful career in data and analytics, as well as work within the Haas teams simulation department.

Margarita 'Marga' Torres Díez is a trackside power unit engineer with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team, responsible for maintaining a coveted engine throughout the F1 paddock. Amelia Lewis - also known as @the.female.engineer on social media - is a performance engineer with McLaren Formula 1 Team, contributing to their statement 2024 Constructors Championship victory. 

Initiatives such as Girls On Track UK are also working hard to give young girls access to careers in STEM and pave the way for more and more women to work across the industry. 

Female strategists have dominated in F1 across the last few seasons, and Hannah Schmitz has continuously stolen the show. The Senior Race Strategist for Oracle Red Bull Racing has become a well-known figure in the sport for her race winning strategies, as the team demolished their competition across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. 

Bernie Collins has quickly become a fan favourite at Sky Sports for her excellent race control commentary, formerly working as a strategist for McLaren Formula 1 Team and Aston Martin Aramco. You can listen to her analysis during race weekends, as she breaks down team orders and manoeuvres for viewers. Ruth Buscombe-Divey is a favourite across social media, formerly working as a strategist for Alfa Romeo Orlen and Ferrari. She now works for F1 TV, providing insight into team decisions, as well as explaining how different strategies work on Instagram. 

How can you get involved? 

• Qualifications and education in engineering and other STEM subjects are vital 

• Look out for apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities with teams across all types of motorsport - work experience can go a long way with employers

• Look for mentorship by connecting with relevant professionals 

• Get involved in STEM outreach programmes; Girls On Track offer the most incredible opportunities for women and girls aspiring for a career in STEM subjects

PR and Comms 

All good teams require a strong media and communications team in order to thrive. Some of the best brands in motorsport have female led teams, ensuring seamless relations with the media, a glowing social media presence and a strong relationship with fans. 

Charlotte Sefton is currently the Director of Communications at ABB FIA Formula E, and previously headed communications at McLaren. Sophie Ogg is currently the F1 Communications Director with the team, and she and Sefton have cultivated an incredible image for the Woking-based team. 

Hannah Atkinson manages social media and public relations for WTF1, and their presence across social media is notable, given their unique style of content. Ella, Lewis Hamilton’s new PR manager at Scuderia Ferrari HP is new to the team, and also works as a member of Mission 44, Hamilton’s foundation to promote diversity and inclusion of minorities and people of colour within the industry. It’s incredible to see a woman of colour working for the famed team, and her visibility is a huge inspiration to aspiring girls. Not much is known yet about Ella but we’re excited to see her in the paddock. 

How can you get involved? 

• A background in marketing, communications, public relations or journalism help, as you can develop writing and relationship building skills

• Know your way around social media and different trends 

• Connect connect connect! Platforms like LinkedIn can create great relationships 

• Develop a portfolio and keep it up to date! This will help you when you start applying for jobs or when you start freelancing 

Natalie Pinkham and Naomi Schiff on a Hot Lap. Via Sky Sports F1

Journalists and Broadcasters 

Natalie Pinkham and Rachel Brookes have been working at Sky Sports F1 for years, paving the way for women to be a part of the broadcast. Over the last few years, they have been joined by the talented likes of Naomi Schiff, elevating the female presence in front of the camera. 

F1 TV has a strong female presence as well, with Ariana Bravo and Laura Winter front and centre, the pair also co-hosting F175 live at the O2 back in February. Nicki Shields has been a fan favourite for years for her coverage of Formula 1 and Formula E, as well as her technical insights. 

Rebecca Clancy and Jennie Gow are fantastic print journalists, who also work in presenting and broadcast. Press conferences are usually filled to the brim with male journalists, so it’s important to see female representation in this sector of the media. 

Nicole Sime (@PitStopNic) and Bella James, both content creators and presenters, are dominating motorsport social media, showing that women are really changing the game online. Their content is relatable and interesting, leading to large followings and opportunities to work closely with brands and teams. 

How can you get involved? 

• The most traditional route into broadcast journalism is through a degree in Journalism Studies, or more specialised courses in the subject, and the same goes for print journalism

• But these days, you can also build a career through content creation and social media roles 

• Write write write! Post post post! Keep your presence active and get your content - whether it be written or visual - out there! Follow trends and keep things topical

• Networking can get you in contact with other creatives and professionals that can help you take your work to the next level

• Seek opportunities by looking out for freelance roles, volunteering opportunities or apprenticeships! These will be very attractive to a potential employer 

So, there you have it! There are so many different way to get involved and forge your path in the ever evolving world of motorsport, and these are only a few options. There are also a multitude of opportunities in art and design, media, and internal team roles, with plenty of freelance jobs and partnerships available all the time.  

Seeing these incredible women in these roles shows how prominent women have become across the industry, and that they are here to stay. The representation we are seeing, from drivers to journalists, is so inspirational to the next generation, who are now seeing that they can do it too.

See it. Be it.