F1 Announce Female Feeder Series

If it weren’t for being busy on Friday morning I could have covered the news as it broke, but nonetheless, I think it is important to get some thoughts out on it. On Friday morning, as F1 took to the track at the Yas Marina in the UAE, posts were shared about F1 Academy, A new series that is meant to feed drivers up towards F1 and starting in 2023. A series that is meant to feed young women into the field of drivers vying for a seat in F1, possibly the most hungry system in motorsport, full of about 50 drivers thus far.

F1 Academy will take place over seven events (3 races per event) in 2023, with at least one happening during an F1 weekend. Thus far, one can only assume that this event will be at one of three tracks in 2023 alongside F1: Silverstone, Monza, or de Barcelona-Catalunya. One thing is for sure, no events will take place in Jeddah or Lusail. With 15 drivers, 5 teams (3 drivers per team), and a “driver budget cap” requiring each driver to bring in €150,000 to gain a seat with F1 itself contributing a further €2.25-million to subsidize the cost of each car (€150K), this F4-level series is getting an almighty backing in its announcement.

What I think is telling right now is that such a push comes only weeks following the final three races of this seasons‘ W series being canceled due to funding. Furthermore, the phrasing in the announcement article on Formula1.com puts preference on F3 as the starting block to “joining the pyramid to Formula 1.” Though the new feeder series is meant to “prepare young female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition – including W Series, Formula 1, Formula 2, and Formula 3,” one can’t help but pessimistically think this could be a way to manage or find some kind of profit in such a Formula while getting rid of an independent series like Catherine Bond Muir’s financially struggling one.

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.” He went on to say, “That is why I am delighted to announce the F1 Academy that will give young female drivers the best chance to fulfill 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.”

Ellen Jones, F1’s head of sustainability went on to add that following the 2019 sustainability, diversity, and inclusion strategy: “we have been making strong progress on these important issues within our own business and across the sport. Today’s announcement is a very important commitment that will ensure young female drivers get the very best opportunity to begin their professional motorsport career and climb the ladder to the top by developing their skills and experience in the right way and with the right level [of] support.”

The Boss of Formula 2 and 3, Bruno Michel will serve as F1 Academy’s manager, stating “I am very excited to launch this new category. Diversity is extremely important in motorsport, and with the F1 Academy[,] we will prove that female drivers have what it takes to compete at high levels. I am absolutely convinced that if young women are given the same amount of experience as any other driver, they can successfully make their way through the pyramid.” He went on to say that he hopes to see female drivers on the F3 grid in the coming years and to have them challenging for points as well as podiums.

The question I have is where does W Series fit into this so-called pyramid of single-seater motorsport? Twice throughout the article on F1.com, it is noted the goal is F3 early on. In the article, we find out that the engines for F1 Academy will be 165 horsepower and turbocharged. W Series’ regulations state a 270 horsepower turbocharged engine is the rule, while F3 is about 380 horsepower. Are we doing all of this so young women have to go through an F4-style female exclusive series, an F3-style female exclusive series, and then into F3 and F2 with the possibility of F1?

I’m very happy this is going to offer more opportunities to young women in motorsport, working alongside one of five established teams already in F3 and F2. I’m excited to see how this will add to the calendar not only for the F1 weekends but for viewers looking to see these young women rise up through the ranks. Nonetheless, if we’re doing it by going effectively around the trees to get some sense of diversity, I won’t say “what’s the point?” but I will ask if there could have been a better way to implement this. The goal is to offer more opportunities for young women who maybe aren’t getting sponsored as much from that young age as their male counterparts, but thus far that will only solve the seat problem.

I’m both trepidatious and hopeful of what will come of F1 Academy. It will offer some chances that would otherwise never come, but it will need a strong marketing campaign behind it to be even worthwhile to (F1 Group owner) Liberty Media. As we’ve seen not only this season but throughout the entirety of W Series, marketing and making sure women’s motorsport is available to viewers has been difficult, especially internationally.

Hopefully, with F1 Group having its own streaming service, broadcast teams, and production team at Biggin Hill, F1 Academy can reach the viewers. Then sponsors will gain interest, and the series can be successful in its goals. We’ll find out more detail in the coming weeks or months ahead of the 2023 goal for an inaugural season.