Fifty years ago, Lella Lombardi made history by becoming the last and only woman to score points in a Formula 1 race. Half a century later, that record still stands… untouched. Let that sink in.
In a sport where lap times are measured in milliseconds and egos in megatons, breaking through as a woman has always been like racing uphill on slick tyres. But that might be about to change.
A forward thinking initiative is finally putting some real fuel behind the idea of getting women to the top tier of motorsport. A new driver development programme backed by motorsport insiders and academics from Manchester Metropolitan University is taking aim at the long-standing barriers holding girls back from racing glory. More Than Equal – an organisation co-founded by ex-F1 driver David Coulthard.
They’ve handpicked six seriously talented teens (we’re talking 13 and 14 years old here), and they’re not just being coached on how to handle hairpins and overtakes. They’re being put through a tailored training regime that tackles everything from neck strength and oxygen capacity to finally understanding how female physiology actually affects performance on the track.
Because yes, periods exist. Hormones are real. And pretending they don’t matter in elite sport is like ignoring tyre pressure in a Grand Prix reckless and outdated.
The programme’s using data, science and good old-fashioned grit to give these girls the tools to take on a racing world still dominated by boys in fireproof suits. From cognitive training to personalised fitness and even cycle-specific planning, it’s about building better athletes not just faster drivers.
Professor Kirsty Elliot-Sale, who’s leading the research on how hormonal cycles impact sport performance, calls it “levelling the playing field.” Because while the boys might not deal with cramps or bloating before a race, they also don’t have to prove they belong on the track every time they put a helmet on.
But it’s not just the bodywork that needs tuning the culture does too.
Lana Flack, one of the programme’s drivers, knows what it’s like to rattle the boys’ club. She was on track for a karting championship until someone probably threatened by her lap times decided sabotage was the only way to stop her. Then there’s Skye Parker, another rising star, who was told mid-race, “This is why girls shouldn’t race.” Charming.
Spoiler: she kept racing. Because that’s what these girls do push forward, full throttle, even when the pit lane isn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet.
And let’s not forget the biggest roadblock of all: money. Motorsport isn’t exactly known for being inclusive when it comes to bank accounts. It’s one of the few sports where your sponsors matter as much as your skills. And when girls are still a minority on the track, they’re often overlooked by the cheque-signers.
But this programme? It’s about changing the conversation and the grid.
So no, we haven’t had a woman on the F1 starting line in decades. But if these girls keep pushing the pace, the next generation won’t be asking when the barriers will fall they’ll be driving right through them.
Because the future of racing? It’s got ponytails, engine oil, and absolutely zero patience for second place.
Lella Lombardi
