The Dream, Still Out of Reach

Women’s presence in motorsport is growing, but true inclusion remains elusive. Every time it seems we’re getting closer, something happens to remind us how far away true belonging still is. Lately, the feeling is less about hope and more about exhaustion. Every “win” for women in racing seems to come with a caveat or backlash, and the industry’s diversity efforts often feel more like PR than progress. As a woman in this space, it’s hard not to think that the mindset hasn’t truly changed, and that’s why nothing moves.

Blame, Stereotypes, and the Burden of Proving Ourselves

Take Marta Garcia’s crash at the Barcelona 24 Hours Le Mans Cup. Despite being a proven F1 Academy champion, when she was hit from behind and hospitalized, online commentary quickly blamed her gender. Social media was flooded with comments like, “This is why women shouldn’t be racing,” completely ignoring both her credentials and the fact that she wasn’t at fault. Even after official reports cleared her, the narrative stuck: a woman in motorsport is always one mistake (or even a mistake that isn’t hers) away from being held up as proof that women don’t belong.

This isn’t an isolated experience. Female fans and creators regularly share stories of being quizzed on racing terms to “prove” they’re real fans, or being dismissed as only caring about “hot drivers.” The comments were full of men agreeing and piling on. These moments make it clear: for many, women are still outsiders in a sport we love just as deeply as anyone else.

Maya Weug racing in Miami (Photo via @f1academy on Instagram)

When Representation Is Just for Show

The recent F1 movie trailer only reinforced this frustration. The two main women are depicted either botching a pit stop or serving as a love interest, never as experts, never as the hero. Female fans took to social media to vent their anger, with one review calling the film “a huge setback for feminism in motorsport” and noting that pop culture still hasn’t caught up with the reality of women’s achievements in the sport. As one fan put it, it is “so tone deaf and misogynistic to have a strong female character marginalized into a romantic interest that’ll inevitably be used only as a prop for the male lead”.

It’s not just Hollywood. The Stake F1 Team’s promotional stunt, where their female-backed F1 Academy driver was made to cook and clean for the male team members, sparked immediate backlash. Instead of highlighting her racing skills, the team fell back on tired gender roles, reducing her to a stereotype and undermining any message of progress.

F1 Academy: Progress or PR?

When F1 Academy was launched in 2023, it was billed as a game-changer series designed to bridge the gap for young women in motorsport, giving them the track time, coaching, and visibility they’d been denied for so long. The promise was simple but powerful: create a clear, supported pathway from karting to the F1 feeder series, and ultimately, to Formula 1 itself. For a moment, it felt like the sport was finally listening.

The structure of F1 Academy is impressive on paper. The 2025 season features 17 full-time drivers from all over the world, representing six teams, with support from major F1 outfits. The calendar is global, with 14 races across seven rounds and three continents, and the average age of drivers is dropping, reflecting a real effort to bring in fresh, young talent. The series has also expanded opportunities for wild card entries, allowing local talent to shine on the world stage.

Doriane Pin celebrating her win in Miami (Photo via @f1academy on Instagram)

There’s no denying the talent on the grid. Doriane Pin, for example, returns as vice-champion with support from Mercedes, having already made waves in endurance racing and single-seaters. Maya Weug, the first woman inducted into the Ferrari Driver Academy, is back after a strong 2024 season. The class of 2025 includes karting champions, esports stars, and drivers who’ve already made history in their home countries.

But here’s where the optimism starts to fade. F1 Academy drivers are only allowed to compete for two years, after which they’re expected to move on. In theory, this should open doors to higher series. In practice, it often feels like a revolving door, talented women cycle through, but few find meaningful support or seats in F3, F2, or beyond. The grid changes almost completely each year, not because of a thriving pipeline, but because the rules force out even the most promising drivers before they’ve had a real chance to develop.

The story of Marta Garcia is telling. After winning the inaugural F1 Academy championship, she was given a single-funded season in the Formula Regional European Championship step up, yes, but one that came with no long-term backing or testing opportunities. When that year ended, so did the support. The message is clear: even the best women in the series are treated as short-term projects, not long-term prospects.

This is the heart of the frustration. F1 Academy is excellent at getting women onto the grid, but what happens after? The pathway from karting to F1 Academy is clearer than ever, thanks to programs like FIA Girls on Track and Champions of the Future. But the next leap into the male-dominated F3 and F2 paddocks remains elusive.

Maya Weug before the Miami qualifying session (Photo via @f1academy on Instagram)

The reality is, for all the photo ops and hashtags, F1 Academy still feels like a DEI initiative first and a genuine development ladder second. Drivers are celebrated while they’re in the series, but too often, they’re quietly dropped when their eligibility ends. The sport gets to pat itself on the back for “supporting women,” but the glass ceiling remains firmly in place.

Meanwhile, the wider motorsport world continues to treat female drivers as novelties or marketing tools. The last time a woman raced in a Formula 1 Grand Prix was nearly 50 years ago. In 2025, the best women in the world are still being shuffled through a system that seems more interested in optics than outcomes.

F1 Academy could be the answer. It has the talent, the resources, and the global platform. But until the mindset changes, until teams, sponsors, and the sport itself truly believe women belong at every level, progress will remain painfully slow, and the dream will stay just out of reach.

The Exhaustion of Tokenism

It’s not just drivers who feel this exhaustion. Female content creators and fans are constantly fighting stereotypes, both online and at the track. Many have spoken out about being invited to races only to be accused of being there for the “wrong reasons,” or being blamed for “ruining the sport” by their mere presence. Creators often describe the need to constantly monitor what they post, fearing backlash for not “knowing enough” or being perceived as a “fangirl,” a sentiment echoed by countless women across social media.

Even as women’s voices grow louder and more visible, it’s hard to ignore the sense that we’re being tolerated more than truly welcomed. We’re told to be grateful for every crumb of progress, but gratitude doesn’t win respect. 

Tired, But Not Giving Up

We’re tired of the stereotypes, the tokenism, the endless need to prove ourselves. Real change in motorsport demands a shift in mindset, a recognition that women don’t just deserve a seat at the table, we deserve a shot at the podium. Until then, the dream will always feel just out of reach.

But here’s what gives me hope: the women who keep showing up, racing, creating, and building communities despite it all. We’re not going anywhere. And we won’t stop pushing until motorsport is truly ours, too.