The Race for a Female Driver in F1

Hello, everyone! The Cherry on Top is back after a short break, during which I sent off the manuscript for my book, La Vie Jamais Racontée: Alice Milliat, a French Heroine and Sporting Suffragette (🎉). It feels like so much has happened in women’s sport since the last newsletter went out, so prepare yourself for a bumper edition of The Cherry on Top!

First up is an interview with Sarah Moore, who has recently joined More than Equal as a coach for the organisation's pioneering female driver development programme. Sarah is a professional racing driver herself, with 25 years of racing experience, and eight years of instructing and coaching experience. In 2018, Sarah became the first ever female winner of the Britcar Endurance Championship, and in 2021 was the first openly LGBTQ+ driver to stand on a Formula 1 podium at the Austrian Grand Prix. She went on to compete for three seasons in the all-female W Series, before becoming the first woman to win in the Indian Racing League in 2023.

I’ve mentioned More than Equal a few times in this newsletter so far, but in case you didn’t know, the organisation’s mission statement is to find, nurture and develop female racing drivers, while identifying and removing the systemic barriers they face. The ultimate aim is to have a female driver in Formula 1. For context, the last woman to start an F1 Grand Prix was Lella Lombardi in 1976. Let’s get into the chat with Sarah to find out more. 

Hi Sarah! Could you tell us more about what your role with More than Equal entails?

As a driver coach, I work closely with young female drivers, providing them with early career coaching that is often lacking in motorsport. My focus is on developing their skills, both on and off the track, fostering their growth into high-performance athletes. Beyond that, I collaborate with a dedicated coaching team to create a supportive environment that helps bridge the gap for these talented drivers, giving them the tools and guidance they need to succeed in the competitive world of motorsport.

What attracted you to the role?

Having faced the challenges of navigating my early career without a coach, I was drawn to More than Equal's mission to address this gap in support for young female drivers. The opportunity to contribute to the development of future talent and be part of an initiative focused on creating positive change in the motorsport ecosystem was incredibly appealing. I believe in the transformative power of coaching, and this role allows me to share my experiences and expertise to empower the next generation of female drivers.

What obstacles have previously stood/currently stand in the way of female drivers in motorsport?

Historically, female drivers have faced obstacles such as limited access to early coaching, a lack of visibility and role models, challenges in securing funding, and outdated stereotypes within the sport. More Than Equal aims to address these hurdles by identifying and nurturing talent early on, providing the necessary support systems, increasing visibility, challenging stereotypes, and facilitating access to funding. These changes can pave the way for a more inclusive and supportive environment for female drivers.

What has been the highlight of your own career so far?

I’m proud to be the first openly LGBTQ+ driver to stand on a Formula 1 podium at the Austrian Grand Prix and that’s one of the biggest highlights of my career. Winning the Indian Racing League, alongside becoming team champions, also stands out as a significant milestone to help inspire growth in a region where the pool of female drivers is currently limited. Serving as a role model for the younger generation is crucial in breaking barriers and encouraging more females to participate in motorsport. That aside, being the first to win the BritCar Endurance Championship and the Ginetta Junior Championship are huge highlights for me – they were big turning points in my career that helped me to progress.

What are the biggest learnings from your own career that you are hoping to pass on to the drivers?

One of the key learnings from my career is the importance of mental toughness. In a highly competitive and male-dominated sport, resilience is crucial both on and off the track. I aim to instil in the drivers the significance of psychological strength, physical fitness, and proper nutrition as integral components of being a successful athlete. Additionally, the use of data and analytics, as exemplified by our partnership with Hintsa Performance, will be emphasised to help drivers continuously improve and succeed.

What do you think is a realistic timeframe before there is a female driver in F1 again?

While predicting specific timelines can be challenging, the efforts being made by initiatives like More than Equal are instrumental in accelerating the path to seeing more female drivers in F1. With the right support, early coaching, and a shift in the motorsport culture, we’re optimistic that the timeframe for having a female driver in F1 will be significantly reduced. It's about creating an environment that fosters talent and ensures equal opportunities for all aspiring drivers, irrespective of gender.

Winning Women

Celebrating the impressive achievements of female athletes across the world

• Congratulations to Aryna Sabalenka, who won her second Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open. She triumphed in two sets against China’s Qinwen Zheng, who was playing in a Grand Slam final for the first time in her career.

• Britain’s Natasha Jonas retained her IBF welterweight world title with a split-decision victory against American Mikaela Mayer in a thrilling bout in Liverpool. The 39-year-old, an older sister of Manchester United star Nikita Parris, admitted this is likely to be her last year in boxing. 

• Agnes Ngetich set a women’s 10 km world record in Valencia last month, running the distance in an astonishing 28 minutes 46 seconds. That’s faster than I can run 5 km 🙃.

• Mia Brookes, who was named The Cherry on Top’s Young Sportswoman of the Year for 2023, earned a gold medal in the slopestyle competition at the X Games in Colorado. The 17-year-old is destined for big things.

• Australia were the winners of the Netball Nations Cup in Leeds, thrashing England 69-49 in the final. New Zealand took the bronze medal with a 62-57 victory against Uganda. 

• We are officially in an Olympic and Paralympic year, and qualification for the Games is well underway! Congratulations to Britain, Belgium, Spain, Germany, the United States and Japan, who all recently booked a place in the Olympic women’s hockey tournament.

Bits and Bobs

Women’s sport news and content you may have missed

• Let’s kick off with the latest research from the Women’s Sports Trust on the visibility of women’s sport in 2023. The top line is that a record 46.7 million people watched women's sport on television in the UK last year, boosted by major events such as the Women’s World Cup. There’s lots more to delve into in the full report, which can be requested here.

• There was a mixed reaction to the establishment of a British & Irish Lions women’s team, which will tour New Zealand in 2027. The announcement came after a feasibility study into a women’s tour, and has been lauded as a "key development for women's rugby”. But the below Twitter/X thread from Scrum Queens explains why not everyone is massively enthusiastic about the news. 

• The next series of the The Game Changers podcast is now underway, promising interviews with the likes of cricket umpire Sue Redfern, England rugby player Mo Hunt and world number one boccia player Claire Taggart. The first episode features Chelsea star Jess Carter and can be listened to here.

• Lots of women’s sport video content to enjoy at the moment. We’ll start with Team GB’s A Cut Above, which sees athletes interviewed while getting their hair done. The latest edition features cyclist Katie Archibald. UK Sport have also recently announced a series of films which highlight social impact stories across sport. First up is hockey player Darcy Bourne, who hopes to use her platform to help diversify the sport. 

• I’m very excited to watch Copa 71, which, as the name suggests, tells the extraordinary story of the unofficial Women's World Cup in 1971. Alex Morgan and the Williams sisters are among the executive producers of the film, which will be released in cinemas on March 8. 

• I loved this video of 90-year-old Emma Maria Mazzenga setting an indoor 200m world record for her age group. She ran the distance in 54.47 seconds at the European Master Championships in Italy. 

guardian_sport

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• My final offering for today is the below video from the women’s 1500m short track speed skating final at the Winter Youth Olympic Games. Yes, I know it sounds incredibly niche, but trust me and watch how gold medallist Yang Jingru daringly outsmarted her opponents.

@schmittly

Bold move snags womens soeed skater Yang Jingru gold and creates the most wonderful chaos in the mix #olympics #speedskating #goldmedal #b... See more

That’s all for today’s newsletter. If you enjoyed it, please share with your networks and anyone else you think may be interested. Thank you!