The world of motorsport has seen very few female drivers make an impact in F1. The sport has been dominated by male drivers for decades, with only a handful of women having competed in F1 over the years.
In this article, we will take a look at the last female driver to race in F1 and the closest female to sign a deal that never materialized.
The last female driver to race in Formula One was Lella Lombardi in 1976. She competed in 12 races during her career and remains the only woman to score points in F1.
Lombardi was a pioneering figure in women’s motorsport and paved the way for future female drivers to follow in her footsteps.
Despite her relatively short career, she remains an inspiration to many young women aspiring to race in Formula One.
Which female driver had her deal cut short?
One of the closest females to sign a deal to race in Formula One was Giovanna Amati. The Italian driver was widely considered one of the best female racers of her generation and was a regular competitor in Formula 3000.
In 1992, she was signed by the Brabham team to compete in the first three races of the F1 season. However, she failed to qualify for any of the races and her F1 career was cut short.
Despite her short stint in Formula One, Amati remains one of the most accomplished female racers in history and continues to inspire young women to pursue a career in motorsport.
While it has been over four decades since Lombardi raced in F1, the sport has yet to see another female driver make a lasting impact.
Calderon, Chadwick and Visser are bright prospects
However, there are several young female drivers who are showing promise and could become the next female driver to race in F1. These include Tatiana Calderon, Jamie Chadwick, and Beitske Visser.
Calderon, a Colombian driver, has been competing in various junior categories and has made a name for herself as one of the fastest female drivers in the world.
Chadwick, from the United Kingdom, became the first woman to win a race in the all-male Formula 3 championship.
Meanwhile, Visser, a Dutch driver, has been making waves in the W Series and has already been tested by an F1 team.
In conclusion, while the number of female drivers in F1 remains small, there are several talented female racers who are making a name for themselves in the world of motorsport.
It may take a few more years, but it is only a matter of time before we see another female driver competing in Formula One.
The example set by pioneering female drivers like Lella Lombardi and Giovanna Amati has inspired a new generation of female racers to pursue their dreams, and it is exciting to see what the future holds for women in motorsport.
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