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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Majendie

F1 launches new all-female series in renewed bid to welcome women drivers on the grid

Stefano Domenicali said the aim was to get a female driver into F1.

(Picture: Getty Images)

Formula One has launched an all-female driver series for the 2023 season.

The F1 Academy will act as a platform to pave the way for young women racers to progress to the likes of W Series, plus the junior F2 and F3 series with a view to once again welcoming female drivers into F1 in the future.

The series will begin next year and be made up of five teams with three cars each and a maxium grid of 15. It is expected one of its races on the calendar will run alongside an F1 grand prix weekend.

F1 will subsidise each driver by £130,000 per season with drivers expected to bring a similar budget to the programme and teams meeting the remaining finances required.

The drivers on the grid will all drive cars made up of a Tatuus T421 chassis, with a 165bhp engine provided by Autotecnica and Pirelli tyres.

F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “Everyone should have the opportunity to follow their dreams and achieve their potential and Formula 1 wants to ensure we are doing everything we can to create greater diversity and routes into this incredible sport.

“That is why I am delighted to announce the F1 Academy that will give young female drivers the best chance to fulfil their ambitions through a comprehensive programme that supports their racing careers and gives them everything they need to move into F3 and hopefully to F2 and then the pinnacle of Formula 1.”

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