Sexist or progressive? The life of a woman in F1

Growing up I experienced a lot of sexism in motorsport and it wasn't easy. I must have had very thick skin. I am proud to have fulfilled my potential, but I want to make life easier for the next generation. I think times are changing. Even in the last 5-10 years. If I look back to when I launched Dare To Be Different in 2016 (aimed at increasing women's participation in motorsports and other male-dominated industries), let's say that where we are now, day and night are changing.

For years, people in Formula One have loved to talk about diversity. They said: «We do a lot.» And I always said, “Really? Show me. What are your KPIs? What are your clear goals? Because talking about it and actually doing something are two different things. But I definitely feel that now we have more commitment.

Honestly, I think that in F1 there are very far-sighted team leaders. Ever since I came to the F1 Academy this year, inside the paddock I have felt a real desire to help make a difference. We have some very interesting plans.

Ultimately, F1 is big business and a sport, and teams should do what they think is right for their brands. I understand. We work very hard at the F1 Academy to make sure that what we offer is trustworthy. We don't just give 15 young drivers a free ride. This is a competitive world. Our drivers have to do their part to get the drive just like boys their age. But we will help them find that support and help them move up the corporate ladder. That's why we've joined the five commands that run programs in F3 and F2.

In addition, these five teams will have to promote female talent. The F1 Academy rules state that teams must have at least one female employee — this can be a mechanic, engineer, race manager, etc. — with less than two years of experience. After two years, these teams will have to hire someone new. The idea is that the talent keeps coming up.

We're also going down to the grassroots to try and increase the talent pool. Our Discover Drive initiative is as important as the racing series.

It's about creating opportunities. How do we make motorsport accessible to girls? That's why I now spend a lot of time in the karting world trying to figure out, okay, who's racing there? At what level? What's stopping girls from racing?

I think this is where we need to be really active because we need to develop this talent pool.

«Everyone is looking at you for tea»

Kate Bevan, More Than Equal Consultant and former F1 Hospitality Director

Kate Bevan says women play a huge role in sports.

There were not so many women in the nineties. Now there are more of them, but then you would find that women were in professional services: legal or PR and marketing. When I started, there were no women in technical positions in F1. It got better.

I have had the same negative experience as many women working in a male-dominated sector. Everyone looks to you for tea when you have a meeting; it's a routine, everyday, slightly dismissive attitude towards your input.

Teams have found that women have a particular talent for complex data and strategizing. You won't find that three women have led F1 teams, and you certainly won't find that there have been three races, but you will, oddly enough, find that there have been three prominent heads of strategy on F1 teams in the last five years.

Getting more women into F1 comes with many challenges and many solutions. I would say that Formula 1 is the biggest gender-neutral sport in the world: men and women can compete in this sport on an equal footing. But until you see women riders rise to the top, you won't see progress. This is the progress you should see.

You can have — which we are — a lot more girls going into Stem [science, technology, engineering and math] subjects and engineering jobs. You might even have more women at the senior management level, but you will always have this gaping hole. For the world's largest gender-neutral sport, a woman has not raced in Formula One in over 40 years. It will just get more and more edgy. I think a woman should win in Formula 1.

We have to convince the sport, the people who support the sport and the sponsors that they have a real role to play. Sports also need to show that there is a way, otherwise why would they waste money on female talent if they can't see anyone ever getting close to the top?

«Don't let that girl beat you»,

Abby Pulling, F1 Academy Women's Championship Driver and Alpine Academy Member

Abby Pulling says the W series, F1 academy and Alpine Rac(H)er program helped change attitudes. Photo: Getty Images/Alex Caparros

When I started karting, it was just me or one or two other women in the paddock. Now you go and there are two or three in each category, and there are about eight categories, so it ends up being quite a lot. There is still a long way to go, but young riders come up to me and say they want to be like me.

When I first entered the Formula 1 paddock, it was the moment when I was pinched. To see how things have changed and how many more women are in the paddock, not only as drivers, but in what the Alpine Rac(H)er program does; it's not just drivers, it's engineering, social media or a designer.

I'm lucky that I didn't have a lot of bad luck in the paddocks of motorsport. Maybe others will say it's different. The only thing I had was karting, when fathers told their sons: «Don't let this girl beat you.» Not a good lesson to teach them at such a young age. I didn't have anything wrong with the Formula 1 paddock either, although social media isn't going anywhere.

When I was younger, I was very lucky that my family was involved in motorsport, but many young women do not. So the sight of female racers makes them think, «Oh, actually I can do it.»

There is still a lot to be done, but I think the W Series, F1 Academy and the Alpine Rac(H)er program have changed attitudes. Even if it's not us, the girls who are driving now, it's the fact that we inspire young girls to play sports and increase the visibility of women. And in 20 years, it will be a woman in F1 — or hopefully in less time.

«Motorsports are not an option for parents»

Naomi Schiff, Sky Sports TV presenter, formerly of Series W

Naomi Schiff (right) impresses the Pen Operator. Photo: Getty Images/Bryn Lennon

I think there are a lot of stereotypes about what it means to be a woman in the industry. Of course, there are times when it's not easy, and there are certain barriers to entry and failure.

The F1 paddock now has a lot of women in a wide variety of roles, be it engineers, mechanics, team hospitality, marketing, and partnering with the team. Of course, we all kind of knock each other down because women are still a minority in the paddock, but I'm happy to report that it has already changed a lot.

I think one of the biggest problems that we women have in sports, especially in terms of driving, is that when you are a young girl, your parents are unlikely to even think that motorsport is an option.

Most importantly, we need girls on the track. We need these drivers in cars and driving as much as they can. Unfortunately, the W series format didn't allow them to spend as much time as it takes to be successful in the sport.

We have more female licensees than ever in history, and this is partly due to the fact that the teams now support these women. Mercedes has a girl in the junior team, Alpine has a few girls in the Rac(H)er program, the teams are starting to take things to the next level. It has gone from words to actions and these actions obviously need to happen at a faster pace, but the only thing we can look forward to is that positive changes are happening.

These girls need support in their careers. You can't compare the career of one of the girls in the W series or the F1 academy to that of the young guys, the drivers who come out of karting and are supported in F4 from now on, constantly testing, constantly in the car — that's what you face.

Opportunities are great here and there, but we really need parity so we can succeed.

«I'm treated the same»

Hannah Schmitz, F1 Red Chief Strategy Engineer Bull Racing Team< /p>Hannah Schmitz, she said, did not experience sexism in men's sports. Photo: ANP/Remco de Waal

People often ask me: «What is it like to be a woman in Formula 1?» The truth is, I never knew anything else. I've always just dealt with it. I guess I never noticed my gender.

To be honest, I never had any problems. I don't think I'm treated differently than others. I have never encountered sexism. Others in the pit lane may have had a different experience, but mine has always been very positive.

My gender doesn't affect my performance in any way. It doesn't make me better or worse than others. Which is exactly how it should be. Being a woman in this sport should not be something exceptional or unusual.

I wish there was more diversity in sports and more women. I am happy to report that I have noticed an increase in recent years. Of course, there are more women at the Red Bull factory. When I first arrived, there were only about five people in the technical department, in the design bureau. In a way it was quite nice, because we were very close and stayed very close.

But most of them don't work in Formula 1 anymore. They switched to other professions. Some wanted to focus on family. So retention is one of the potential problems. I think maybe because there were so few women in the sport, flexibility was not valued.

But things are changing. My husband, who works in the city, and I took six months of parental leave when we had kids.

We made a conscious effort to keep everything equal so we could both follow our dreams. But it has to be really conscious.

My message to all the women and girls who are thinking about a career in F1 is not to care what people think; believe in yourself. There are a few more misconceptions, but you know who you are, you know what you can do. You should just go through it and be yourself.