Cover Throughout the past 75 years, women have been instrumental to F1’s success
Throughout the past 75 years, women have been instrumental to F1’s success
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F1 is historically a male-dominated sport but it doesn’t mean that there is no space for women. From pioneering drivers to engineering masterminds, Tatler spotlights some of the most influential women in the sport’s 75-year history
It has been over 30 years since the last female driver competed in Formula 1. With the sport seeing a surge in global viewership and fan engagement in recent years, is it only a matter of time before we see another woman on the grid?
Unlike many other women’s sports that have experienced considerable advancements in recent years, F1—widely regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport—remains a notable exception. According to research conducted by More than Equal, women make up just 10 per cent of racers across all categories and only 13 per cent in karting as of 2023. Although there are no formal gender-based restrictions on participation, the sport has long been, and continues to be, overwhelmingly male-dominated. This is due to a combination of factors, including historical barriers, limited opportunities for female drivers, lack of sponsorships and funding and the perception that the sport’s physical demands are better suited to men.
While there is still much work to be done to level the playing field, efforts to close the gap are being made, and it’s essential to recognise the progress already made, along with the people driving that change. In 2023, Formula 1 introduced the F1 Academy, a feeder series specifically designed to develop and prepare female drivers for higher levels of competition. The following year, F1 launched a Diversity and Inclusion Charter in an effort to enhance diversity and inclusion across all F1 organisations. Beyond these initiatives, women are also increasingly competing in other motorsport categories and making their mark behind the scenes, as race engineers, test drivers, team principals, strategists and media figures. All in all, there are now more women than ever making an impact in the paddock.
From trailblazers like Maria Teresa de Filippis to strategy masterminds such as Hannah Schmitz, women are slowly but surely making their way in the motorsport world—both on and off the track.
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Maria Teresa de Filippis: the first woman to race in F1
Above Maria Teresa De Filippis began her F1 career in the Monaco Grand Prix (Photo: courtesy of F1)
Maria Teresa De Filippis began her F1 career in the Monaco Grand Prix (Photo: courtesy of F1)
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Only five female racers have officially competed in a F1 World Championship Grand Prix, and Maria Teresa de Filippis was the first. Born in Naples, Italy, in 1926, De Filippis began racing at the age of 22, attempting to prove her two brothers wrong after they bet that she wouldn’t be fast enough. She made her competitive debut in 1948, before eventually being signed by Maserati and competing in five F1 races between 1958 and 1959. She qualified for three races and finished 10th at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Following the tragic death of her friend and fellow F1 driver, Jean Behra, De Filippis stepped back from racing. Years later, she returned to the sport and became the vice-president of the International Club of Former F1 Grand Prix Drivers. Though she passed away in 2016, De Filippis’s pioneering legacy continues to inspire generations of women in motorsport.
Lella Lombardi: the first woman to score a point in F1
Above Lella Lombardi looking at her March Formula 1 before racing at Brands Hatch March 27, 1975 (Photo: courtesy of F1)
Lella Lombardi looking at her March Formula 1 before racing at Brands Hatch March 27, 1975 (Photo: courtesy of F1)
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Italian-born Lella Lombardi made history as the first and only woman to score points in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. She developed a love for driving while delivering meat in her family’s butcher shop van. Despite early disapproval from her father and difficulties securing sponsorship, she steadily made progress in the racing world, from karting to Formula Monza and eventually Formula 3. In 1975, Lombardi was 33 when she made her F1 debut and scored a career-best sixth place at the Spanish Grand Prix, earning half a point. Over two seasons, she started 12 races—the longest career for a woman in F1—and later founded her own racing team, Lella Lombardi Autosport. She passed away in 1992 at age 50 after battling breast cancer.
Monisha Kaltenborn: the first female team principal in F1
Above Motorsport was not intially part of Monisha Kaltenborn's career plan (Photo: courtesy of F1)
Motorsport was not intially part of Monisha Kaltenborn's career plan (Photo: courtesy of F1)
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Born in India and raised in Austria, Monisha Kaltenborn had a decidedly unconventional path into F1. She began her career as a lawyer before joining the Sauber F1 team in the late 1990s to manage its legal affairs. Her efforts and expertise propelled her through the ranks, and by 2010, she was appointed CEO. Two years later, she stepped into the high-pressure role of team principal—a breakthrough moment for female representation in the sport. During her tenure, she oversaw drivers such as Nico Hülkenberg and Marcus Ericsson. Kaltenborn stepped down in 2017, but her leadership and diligence signalled a welcome shift in what high-level roles in Formula 1 could look like.
Hannah Schmitz: principal strategy engineer at Red Bull
Above Hannah Schmitz is part of the team making real-time race-winning decisions for Oracle Red Bull Racing (Photo: courtesy of Red Bull Content Pool)
Hannah Schmitz is part of the team making real-time race-winning decisions for Oracle Red Bull Racing (Photo: courtesy of Red Bull Content Pool)
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After earning a master’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Cambridge in 2009, Schmitz joined Red Bull as a modelling and simulation engineer. In just two years, she was promoted to senior strategy engineer, and in 2021, she assumed her current role as principal strategy engineer. Since then, she has become a vital presence on the pit wall, responsible for making high-stakes, split-second strategic decisions. Schmitz has been instrumental in Red Bull’s success during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, with several of her calls proving decisive, including her bold tyre strategy at the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix, which helped Max Verstappen secure first place from tenth on the grid.
Marta García: the first F1 academy champion
Above Marta García received a fully funded seat with PREMA Racing (Photo: courtesy of Prema Racing)
Marta García received a fully funded seat with PREMA Racing (Photo: courtesy of Prema Racing)
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Marta García became the inaugural F1 Academy champion in 2023, emerging as a standout talent in the all-female racing series. Racing for PREMA, she quickly became the one to watch when she won the series’ inaugural race in Spielberg, Austria. She then went on to dominate the season, securing seven more victories, five poles and 12 podium finishes before ultimately clinching her win during the season finale in Austin, Texas. Following her triumph, García moved on from F1 academy to a fully funded seat in the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA)—a step part of F1 Academy’s mission to support its athletes in progressing through the higher levels of competitive racing. As the all-female series enters its third season, García’s success continues to serve as proof of the championship’s potential to increase female participation and representation in motorsport.
Laura Müller: the first female race engineer in F1
Above Laura Müller works in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit (Photo: courtesy of F1)
Laura Müller works in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit (Photo: courtesy of F1)
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Laura Müller made history ahead of the 2025 season when she was promoted to be the Haas F1 team’s race engineer for French racing driver Esteban Ocon, making her the first woman to hold the role in F1 history. Known among colleagues for her strong work ethic and determination, the German-born engineer began her motorsport journey in 2014 as an analysis intern with the German team Phoenix Racing. She went on to build a versatile resume, working with Formula Renault 2.0, stock cars, LMP2, DTM and GT3. Müller eventually stepped into F1 in 2022 as part of Haas’ simulator department and was promoted to performance engineer this season. Müller’s appointment to one of F1’s most demanding trackside positions is a rare and hard-earned achievement, one that speaks both to her talent and the slow but ongoing efforts towards greater inclusion in motorsport.
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