'Hopefully the next generation that we inspire, will be the difference'

Jamie Chadwick (24), is probably the fastest woman on earth right now. Regardless, the three-time W Series winner and Williams Racing Driver Academy member is still waiting for her absolute breakthrough in a leading racing series, like so many other female drivers. "Having been so long since a woman drove a Formula 1 car, if she does a bad job, then unfortunately that will reflect on our gender as a whole."

Times have changed. In today's society, there is less and less room for inequality. Equal opportunities and possibilities for everyone, male or female, is a topic that is more than ever on the agenda. This adage is also growing in the world of sports, but unfortunately, it still has its ups and downs. In tennis, for instance, female athletes can often win the same amount of money as men. But there is still work to do: not all tournaments have the same policy. Steps are being made, although they are sometimes small.

Always that one question

The motorsport world remains conservative. Women in racing is still a rarity to this day. As a role model to the new generation of female drivers, Chadwick gets that one question in almost every interview: 'Why don't women drive in Formula 1?' She could get tired of having to explain over and over again. "Good question. Yes and no," Chadwick says in conversation with GPblog.

"Because I think, yes, on the side that obviously, it is topical and it's what I talked about. But then no, because I think it is relevant. You know, there is a reason why there aren't women at the top level of the sport and there aren't, so many women in the sport. And we need to address that. We need to work out and with that, I think it's important that we talk about it. And the dialogue is open because that's what eventually, or I hope eventually will make it more diverse.”

Supporting each other

Susie Wolff and Katherine Legge are among the select group of women who had (or have) appealing careers in motorsport. They make an ideal role model for Chadwick at times. They too are committed to making the sport more diverse. "I think that's what's great about the women that are in our sport. You know, we are trying to support each other and help each other. We are a minority still. I very much looked up to Susie growing up and there were many other women in the sport that I felt the same way. I felt the W series was very cool, the fact that we created a community more than anything else of women trying to support women in the sport, which I think is a really important thing.”

Almost her entire career, in karts and later open-wheel racing, Chadwick competed against boys and men. In the W Series, only women were her competitors. “I mean, on track, it's the same, it's competitive. Everyone wants to win. But off track, it's nice because I think, culturally, sport is male-dominated. Maybe I didn't realise when I first started. I was a young girl that spent my whole junior career surrounded by just men, and you feel like you're just trying to be one of the boys. But actually, it's nice to just be yourself and embrace the environment that isn't quite so male-dominated."

Chadwick reflects on the first year of the W Series. "We did all get on very well the first year. It made us laugh because I think they were creating a documentary, and I do remember they were trying to get drama and trying to get us to argue. But none of us did because we all did get on very well. But I think that's because we all have very similar upbringings in the sport, we have similar interests, of course. And I think that is part of the reason why it created this kind of friendship dynamic."

More role models needed

Ultimately, Chadwick wants to reach Formula 1. Thanks to her association with Williams Racing, the first step has been made. More and more Formula 1 teams are now including female drivers in their junior programmes. Still, none of those women did a test or completed a free practice session (yet). "A man could get in the car and do a bad job and it would get overlooked," Chadwick responds. "If a woman does and particularly, you know, having it been so long since a woman drove a Formula 1 car, if she does a bad job, then, unfortunately, that will reflect on our gender as a whole, which isn't fair and it's not the way to do it.

"So, whilst I strongly believe we need more role models to inspire the next generation, I think it needs to be done in the right way. But I do think the Alpine Academy getting more female drivers in, and Williams backing me, is important because, whilst it might just seem like a ticked box, it is much more than that. The experience we gain and, hopefully, the next generation that we inspire will be the difference.” 

With both feet on the ground

Chadwick is now active in America, where she competes in Indy NXT, the feeder series of IndyCar. She also continues to work as a Williams Racing Academy Driver. Chadwick seems to be the woman closest to a chance in Formula 1, even if it would 'only' involve driving a free practice session. As a joke, she told Williams executives she would be quite willing to step in the car during such a session.

"I think I've got to be realistic as to where I'm at. The W series has been amazing exposure-wise; however, the level and where the car is at is relatively junior in comparison. You know, it's still beneath Formula 3, maybe just above Formula 4. And you're not looking at any other Formula 3 driver putting them in an FP1 yet. So, I'm still away in terms of level. But like I said, it's now time to step up an opportunity in Indy NXT, to get the seat time to develop properly. I'm hoping it gives me that chance to take the opportunity when it hopefully comes around the corner to get into that Formula 1 car.”