Jamie Chadwick completes 32-lap Formula 1 test at Portimao

Jamie Chadwick completed 32 laps in a Formula 1 car at Portugal's Portimao circuit, describing the experience as the high point of her racing career. In an interview reported by BBC Sport, the British driver said the test fulfilled a long-held ambition and exceeded what she had imagined driving an F1 car would feel like.

Watch the highlights:

The 28-year-old has been associated with Williams since joining as a development driver in 2019. Her record includes titles in each of the three seasons of the all-female W Series and becoming the first woman to win a road race in IndyCar's feeder championship. The Portimao outing added Formula 1 track experience to a career already spanning several forms of single-seater competition.

Preparation for the test included simulator sessions and a structured gym programme, with particular attention to strengthening her neck. Chadwick told the BBC she had trained alongside some current F1 drivers. Although neck work was already part of her routine, she said the demands of the car required a much greater level of strength, with acceleration and cornering forces making an immediate impression.

Chadwick also identified Susie Wolff as an inspiration behind her ambition to drive an F1 car. Wolff appeared for Williams during the 2014 British Grand Prix weekend, the first woman to participate in an official F1 session for more than two decades. She now leads F1 Academy, the all-female racing series intended to provide opportunities for developing drivers.

The BBC report also noted that Doriane Pin, the 2025 F1 Academy champion, drove a Mercedes F1 car in April. Such opportunities have not yet translated into a woman returning to the grand prix starting grid: Lella Lombardi remains the most recent woman to start an F1 race. Chadwick expressed confidence that women have the ability to compete at that level, while resisting a deadline for when it should happen.

She pointed to the limited number of available seats, noting that even Formula 2 and Formula 3 champions can struggle to secure a place. For women, she said, the smaller pool of drivers adds another obstacle. Nevertheless, Chadwick believes continued support and opportunities such as her Williams test can help create a route towards a future race seat.