Chadwick says Williams F1 test reinforces belief in female talent

Jamie Chadwick has said her first Formula 1 test with Williams strengthened her belief that women can compete in the championship, while cautioning against setting a deadline for a female driver to reach the grid. Speaking to BBC Sport, she described opportunities such as her test as part of the work needed to develop that talent.

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Chadwick completed 32 laps at Portimao in the team's 2025 FW47, according to Formula 1's official website. The outing added an F1 test to a racing career spanning single-seaters and sportscars, including W Series and Indy NXT. She prepared for the run with gym training, simulator sessions and a seat fitting before taking to the Portuguese circuit.

The test also had a practical role for Williams. Formula 1 reported that Chadwick supplied data and feedback to help the team prepare for Portugal's return to the calendar in 2027. Team principal James Vowles praised her performance and feedback, saying she had earned the opportunity to drive the car.

Chadwick is a Williams ambassador and F1 Academy adviser. In comments carried by Formula 1, she said watching Susie Wolff drive for Williams had helped inspire her own ambitions. She hopes her experience can similarly encourage younger drivers and inform the guidance she offers those progressing through the sport.

Her enthusiasm was accompanied by a warning about the difficulty of securing a race seat. Chadwick told BBC Sport that even champions from Formula 2 and Formula 3 can struggle to reach F1 because the available talent exceeds the number of places. She said the smaller pool of female drivers makes that challenge harder still.

BBC Sport also noted that Chadwick is not the only woman to have driven an F1 car this year: 2025 F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin drove a Mercedes in April. Chadwick said she believed female talent was already present and that continuing support would move the sport in a positive direction, without committing to a timetable for a breakthrough.