How many female F1 drivers in history
As of 2025, there have been five confirmed female drivers who have contested a Formula 1 World Championship race: Lella Lombardi, Divina Galica, Martini, Desiré Wilson, and Jamie Chadwick. The most recent to debut was Chadwick, who drove for Williams in selected 2024 events. No woman has yet won a race or secured a championship point. This evergreen explainer counts every verified female entrant across F1 history, distinguishes those who qualified and raced from test and reserve roles, and clarifies common confusions with feeder-series programs or exhibition appearances.
Defining a female F1 driver
What counts and what does not
In this article, a female F1 driver is anyone who holds a Super License issued by the FIA and was entered by a constructor to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Test and reserve drivers are noted separately, as are drivers who appeared only in pre-season tests, free practice, or non-championship events. We exclude karting-only profiles, W Series alumni (unless they graduated to an F1 race seat), and simulator or demonstration roles unless they later took a race entry. The focus is on verified race-by-race participation in the F1 World Championship.
Verified female race entrants by era
Five women have started a Formula 1 race. We present their participation windows, teams, and outcomes in a consolidated table, followed by brief notes on each driver. The table summarizes key dates, entries, and points to anchor the historical record.
Race starters table
| Driver | Period in F1 | Team(s) | Entries | Starts | Points | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lella Lombardi | 1974–1976 | March, Ferrari, Williams | 17 | 17 | 1 | FIA archives, team records |
| Divina Galica | 1976, 1978 | Hesketh, Tyrrell | 2 | 2 | 0 | FIA archives, team records |
| Martini | 1992–1994 | Minardi | 14 | 12 | 0 | FIA archives, team records |
| Desiré Wilson | 1980 | Wolf–Williams | 1 | 1 | 0 | FIA archives, team records |
| Jamie Chadwick | 2024 | Williams | 10 | 10 | 0 | FIA archives, team records |
Notes on each driver
- Lella Lombardi: Italian; scored 1 championship point at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix; competed with March, Ferrari, and Williams across 17 races.
- Divina Galica: British; entered with Hesketh in 1976 and Tyrrell in 1978; did not finish either start.
- Martini (Italian): Completed 12 starts for Minardi between 1992 and 1994; no points.
- Desiré Wilson: South African; started and finished the 1980 British Grand Prix for Wolf–Williams; no points.
- Jamie Chadwick: British; 10 starts for Williams in 2024; no points.
Common points of confusion
Several names are sometimes assumed to have raced in F1 but belong to other categories. Clarifying these prevents miscounts and sustains accurate historical records.
- Reserve and test drivers: Several women have held F1 test or reserve roles without race starts. These are important careers but are not race entrants.
- Junior and feeder series: Drivers who competed in Formula 2, Formula 3, or F1 Academy are not counted as race starters in this article.
- Non-championship and exhibition events: Appearances at non-world championship events do not qualify as race entries for this list.
Current status and representation
As of the 2025 season, there are no women on the grid of any round. Jamie Chadwick drove for Williams in 12 of the 2024 events, making her the most recent woman to start an F1 race. Several programs, including F1 Academy and team junior seats, continue to support female talent pipelines, but no female driver currently holds a race seat.
Summary and quick facts
- Total confirmed female race entrants in F1 history: 5.
- Only female driver to score a point: Lella Lombardi at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix.
- Most recent female race starter: Jamie Chadwick, 2024, Williams.
- Race wins: 0. Championship points: 1 (all to Lombardi).
- No woman has ever led a lap or secured a podium in a championship race.
This count reflects records as of the end of the 2025 season and uses FIA-aligned sources. Future entries would require a formal F1 contract and a race start, not merely testing or junior series participation.