Formula 1 is working on launching its own new all-female single-seater series aimed at promoting young teenage drivers and channeling their talent through the sport's junior ranks.
Formula 1 hopes to launch its feeder series as soon as 2023, with a relatively limited grid of 12 to 15 drivers racing for multiple teams, most of which would be affiliated with those outfits competing in F3 and F2.
The series, which would use F4 machinery, would also be managed by the current F3/F2 organisation.
It's unclear how the selection process for the series would work, but the concept is not expected to be affiliated in any way with W Series, which suffered funding issues this season, nor will it be positioned as a rival of the latter.
©WSeries
Formula 1 has yet to officially comment on its nascent idea, but the sport is eager to bring more female talent to the fore, and hopefully carry its brightest prospects all the way to the top of its pyramid.
"We are committed to ensuring greater opportunity for talented women drivers to progress and reach the top levels," said a spokesperson for F1.
The late Lella Lombardi was the last female driver to compete in F1, the Italian charger starting 12 Grands Prix and scoring half a championship point in her second race when she finished the shortened Spanish Grand Prix in 1976 in sixth place.
On Thursday at COTA, Lewis Hamilton called out F1 for not extending a lifeline to W Series following the latter's financial difficulties.
But the seven-time world champion believes that in general, "there has not been enough focus on women in sport, the whole of Formula 1’s life, and there’s not enough emphasis on it now."
"There’s not really a pathway for those young, amazing drivers to even get to Formula 1, and then you have some people who say we’re never going to see a female F1 driver ever. So that’s not a good narrative to be putting out," Hamilton added.
"So I think we need to be doing more, and with the organisation, with Formula 1 and Liberty doing so well it’s not a lot for them to be able to help out in that space."
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