Jamie Chadwick ‘motivated’ to prove Domenicali wrong to join F1 after 5 years

Britain’s Jamie Chadwick says he is ready to back down from Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali’s claim that a female driver will not take to the grid for five years.

Chadwick is a dominant force in the all-female W Series, created in 2019 to serve as a springboard to F1, and could secure a hat-trick of championships in Singapore next weekend.

It has been 46 years since an athlete – Italian Lella Lombardi – took part in Formula 1 racing, and eight years since Susie Wolff, who is married to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, took part in Grand Prix practice.

The goal is F1

Speaking last month, F1 CEO Domenicali said: “Unless there is something like a meteorite, I don’t see a girl coming to F1 in the coming years. It’s highly unlikely.”

But in response to Domenicali’s claims, Chadwick, 24, said: “It doesn’t really bother me. It’s motivating if nothing else.

“I know that if I have success in the right series of feeders, then I will be in Formula 1. My goal is definitely to try to do it within five years.

“I have a lot to achieve in that time, but I want to go through the right feeder series and succeed in these championships to be in Formula 1. I need to lean on people who believe in it and really see it as possible and surround myself with those voices.”

Chadwick, a Williams development driver, has won five of the six W Series races this season. She will claim her third consecutive title in Singapore if she beats her three nearest challengers: Alice Powell, Beitske Visser and Abby Pulling.

But despite the success in the W series, Chadwick was unable to secure a place in any of the feeder divisions of Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3.

A move to America is an ever-growing possibility, and on Wednesday Chadwick took part in an Indy Lights test with Andretti Autosport in Sebring, Florida.

Looking ahead to next year, Chadwick added: “Nothing is confirmed. I’m still weighing my options. Talks are ongoing in both Europe and America.”