Formula 3 driver Sophia Floersch says F1 Academy is being used as "pinkwashing", a term which indicates being superficially sympathetic towards equality or inclusion without seriously attempting to improve the situation.
The claim comes after inaugural champion Marta Garcia conceded that last weekend’s Formula Regional European event in Monza was “probably my last race in a single-seater”.
Garcia had been competing for the Iron Dames team and completed the campaign as the lowest-placed driver to have started all 20 races – failing to score a point and recording a best finish of 14th.
Reacting to Garcia’s news on social media, Floersch, who has long been a critic of all-female categories such as the F1 Academy and W Series before it, said: “I'm so sorry for you, Marta.
“It looks like they used you [in] 2023 for short-time marketing. With female drivers, [that] visibility doesn't help to keep up with the stopwatch. That’s not a secret. Visibility just helps F1 but not female pilots.”
As part of the prize for claiming the F1 Academy title, Garcia’s FRECA seat for 2024 was fully funded, with this cost being split between F1 Academy, Prema, Tatuus and Pirelli.
She was partnered in the Iron Dames set up by Doriane Pin, who currently sits second in the F1 Academy standings but equally failed to register a point in FRECA.
“Have you found one sponsor, Marta?” added Floersch, who is set to compete for Nissan at Formula E’s all-female test in November. “They then drive you onto the sideline.
“What happened in 2024 was so bad. They point the finger at you even though they know exactly what it takes. The male talents of the team bosses show how it's done.
“Where are all the women's programmes that were announced in 2021/2022? Why media doesn’t ask the right questions? It’s so sad. Pinkwashing. Let’s make a list of female drivers since 2021 and ask them what happens in racing.”
Motorsport.com has reached out to Formula 1 for comment.
