F1 Academy Roundup: A huge step for up and coming female drivers

The F1 Academy has achieved a lot in its first year. From being broadcast live on an F1 race weekend to having backing from major F1 and F2 teams, the Academy has put women at the forefront. But will this success continue to grow?

Why F1 Academy Worked

When the F1 Academy was first announced I and many others were excited to see what this new opportunity could do for so many talented women in the motorsport world.

However, the looming thoughts of the previous W series were still fresh in my mind. The overall consensus was that the F1 Academy would suffer the same fate as the W series...

I go into detail about the W series and the main issues here in my previous article.

But luckily the Academy is receiving the proper backing from teams and most importantly F1.

For next year, All ten of the F1 teams will have their livery on the Academys F4 spec cars and one driver competing in the growing series.

The remaining five female drivers will be supported by other partners but who those partners will be is still to be announced as I'm currently writing this article.

“We created F1 Academy to bring about real and lasting change to ensure young female talent have the right system in place to follow and achieve their dreams." - F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali.

I agree with Stefano as the support for this series has been immense. One of the main reasons investors/teams don't support women in motorsport is because they don't see where they can get a return on their investment.

Who wants to put thousands into someone who won't be given the time of day in other formulas? That is the issue women face, their careers not going as far as a mans.

This loophole is one most women have fallen into and one the Academy hopes to fill.

The Impact Of This Category

Already I have started to see the impact this category has on all women in the motorsport world, not just those in the driver's seat.

Women off the grid are also finally being given opportunities thanks to the Academy.

“The concept of F1 Academy is to create a platform where women can be nurtured to progress further up the ladder, but also to inspire the next generation and to create opportunity, not just on track, but also off it,”- Susie Wolff, Managing Director of the F1 Academy.

To have an organic place for gaining experience and nurturing skills for the bigger leagues is inspiring to watch (And some say more interesting than F1). This is where women can excel and not be shunned for mistakes.

To see even the likes of Lewis Hamilton be down in the Pit lane for Marta Garcias' win of the championship is an inspiring image, one that will fuel other females that the goal of working in motorsport is more than just possible but a guarantee.

Not to mention this win has led Marta to have a fully funded seat next year at the Formula Renault Eurocup by Alpine (Freca).

Serving as a bridge between Formula 4 and Formula 3 Championships, the 23-year-old will be competing for top team Prema in the division.

The funds for this seat are coming from F1 Academy, Tatuus (which supplies the cars for the Academy), Prema and Pirelli who have been providing F1 tyres since 2011.

Where Will The Category Continue to Go?

The end goal for everyone is for the Academy to produce a Female F1 driver, and if the category continues to have this support from F1 and fans I believe it's possible.

But in the meantime where will this academy go? I believe this category will continue to thrive. The amount of success from Marta's full-time drive to Bianca Bustamante joining McLaren as their new development driver shows how much support these women are receiving and that it's not a useless series.

I hope that others continue to keep the views and ratings of this category up as without this the more likely support will dwindle, and more sponsors will go elsewhere.

Overall, the excitement and sheer pride I feel from watching this series grow in such a short time is unmatched by anything I've experienced. I can't wait for the future and to see these women grow their skill and talent is something that continues to evolve each season of this sport.