F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Chadwick defeats Powell to win inaugural W Series race

Former British F3 winner and reigning MRF Challenge champion Jamie Chadwick became the inaugural winner of the new all-female W Series after completing a clean sweep in Hockenheim.

Chadwick topped Friday's practice sessions in Germany and was in a league of her own in qualifying on Saturday morning, edging runner up Fabienne Wohlwend by almost two seconds on a wet track.

Damp but drying conditions were in order when the field set off for 30 minutes of racing but Chadwick lost the lead to Sarah Moore on the opening lap while a collision between Megan Gilkes and Emma Kimilainen brought out the safety car.

When the race resumed, Chadwick pounced on Moore to reclaim the lead, with the latter overtaken by Alice Powell a lap later.

Chadwick controlled her advantage to clinch a dominate win, while Powell fended off several assaults from 18-year-old Marta Garcia to complete W Series' first ever podium and a British 1-2.

Former Red Bull junior Beitske Visser came home fourth ahead of Moore and Wohlwend.

"It feels amazing, I'm more relieved right now I think after that race,"  the 20-year-old from Bath told Channel 4's Lee McKenzie.

"It was a bit stressful, more stressful than I would have liked it to have been. To start the season in the W Series like this more than we could have hoped for."

Chadwick admitted to have been surprised by the lack of grip she found down at the hairpin where she ran wide and yielded the lead to Sarah Moore.

"I knew we had the pace," she added. "When I was out front I was happy but I made that mistake into Turn 6.

"I really overestimated the amount of grip there was going to be down there. It was really slippery, I was surprised more people didn't have issues behind.

"Pleased to get back into the lead and then get my head down from there but I was still struggling a little bit, it was tricky out there. Not the easiest race I've had." 

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Audi’s Wheatley thought team principal role in F1 was ‘unattainable’

In the world of Formula 1, where career ladders are often climbed with ruthless ambition,…

1 hour ago

Schumacher’s first F1 winner hits the auction block

Michael Schumacher’s 1992 Benetton B192, the very car that delivered his maiden Formula 1 victory,…

17 hours ago

Why Bortoleto thinks Verstappen could be the perfect teammate

Gabriel Bortoleto is not buying into the widespread idea that lining up alongside Max Verstappen…

19 hours ago

Eddie Cheever: Still the American driver with the most F1 starts

Today, we wish a happy 68th birthday to Eddie Cheever who remains after all these…

21 hours ago

In pictures: Audi's first day on track in Barcelona

History was made at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Friday as the Audi Revolut F1…

22 hours ago

Mercedes pays tribute to motorsport legend Hans Herrmann

The flags at Mercedes-Benz have been lowered to half-mast as the racing community mourns the…

23 hours ago