Jonas Leo
Historically, motorsports have been predominantly male-dominated, with women frequently relegated to promotional roles rather than competitive or technical ones. This long-held perception is steadily being dismantled, making the increasing visibility of women across all facets of Formula 1 profoundly significant. While their presence has historically been rare and often overlooked, women have consistently contributed to motorsport’s rich tapestry, a legacy brilliantly exemplified by figures such as Lella Lombardi.
Today, the landscape is shifting, with women excelling in critical engineering and strategic positions. Red Bull Racing boasts Hannah Schmitz as Principal Strategy Engineer, a pivotal role in determining race outcomes, while Laura Muller serves as a race engineer for Haas, working directly with drivers and car performance. Prominent strategists Bernie Collins and Ruth Buscombe have become recognizable voices in F1 analysis, offering expert insights on race weekends. On the technical side, Michaelagh Tennyson contributes her skills to Red Bull’s technical pit crew, and Khloe Collins works as a car build technician. These contributions are gaining wider recognition through initiatives like "In Her Corner" and a burgeoning online presence, yet this contemporary surge builds upon a formidable foundation laid by tenacious pioneers.
"Little Pilots" and Persistent Drive: Early Pioneers
Motorsport, including grand prix racing, has seen women participate since its nascent stages, long before the establishment of the modern Formula 1 World Championship in 1950. Trailblazing figures such as Camille du Gast, who competed in the early 1900s, challenging endurance records; Maria Antonietta Avanzo, known for her speed and participation in events like the Targa Florio; Elisabeth Junek, a formidable competitor in the 1920s who famously tackled the demanding Nürburgring; and the stylish and successful Helle Nice, who raced Grand Prix cars between the 1920s and 1940s, all defied prevailing gender norms through their competitive spirit.
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The Formula 1 era saw its first female competitor in Maria Teresa de Filippis, who made history by qualifying for the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix in a private Maserati 250F. She competed in five World Championship Grands Prix, starting three of them. Her resolve was famously tested at the 1958 French Grand Prix, where the race director infamously stated, "the only helmet a woman should wear is the one at the hairdresser’s." Undeterred by such overt sexism, de Filippis, affectionately nicknamed "il pilotino" (the little pilot) due to her stature, continued to race until her retirement in 1959, demonstrating unyielding determination against the prevailing attitudes of her time.
Beyond the competitive arena, women have played vital, if often unsung, roles in automotive history. Even royalty contributed, with Queen Elizabeth II joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) as a driver and mechanic during World War II. Her training included engine maintenance and repairing military vehicles, earning her the moniker "Princess Auto Mechanic," a testament to women’s capabilities in traditionally male domains. Closer to the heart of motorsport, before the advent of sophisticated computer automation, critical lap times were meticulously recorded manually from the pit wall. This crucial task was frequently undertaken by the wives and girlfriends of drivers, stopwatch in hand, underscoring their integral, though informal, contributions to team operations and race strategy. Nina Rindt, wife of 1970 F1 World Champion Jochen Rindt, became a recognizable figure on the pit wall, diligently timing her husband, a poignant image captured in motorsport history.
Proving Pace, Earning a Place: Lella Lombardi’s Ascendancy
Today marks 85 years since the birth of Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi, an Italian driver whose name remains etched in Formula 1 history for a singular achievement: she is the only woman ever to score points in the World Championship. Lombardi was not merely a participant; she was one of the very few women to consistently qualify and compete at motorsport’s pinnacle, later becoming the first woman to participate in the prestigious Race of Champions, an invitation-only event featuring top drivers from various disciplines.
Lombardi’s racing prowess extended significantly beyond Formula 1. Her endurance racing career was particularly notable, securing outright victories in the 6 Hours of Pergusa and the 6 Hours of Vallelunga in 1979, followed by another triumph at the 6 Hours of Mugello in 1981. In one of motorsport’s most grueling tests, the Le Mans 24 Hours, she achieved an impressive second-place finish in her class in 1976, showcasing her versatility and resilience in long-distance racing.
Born in Frugarolo, Piedmont, Lombardi’s journey into racing began far from the glamour of the paddock. The daughter of a butcher, she initially worked as a delivery driver for her family’s shop, where her innate passion for driving was ignited. Her ambition was initially met with hesitation at home, a common challenge for women pursuing unconventional careers. However, her undeniable talent and genuine competitiveness, which began to surface around 1968, eventually won over her family’s support.
By 1970, Lombardi had firmly established her ability, dominating the Formula 850 series by winning four of ten races in a Biraghi car, ultimately clinching the championship in 1971. Her progression continued into Italian Formula 3, where she finished a respectable tenth in the standings for two consecutive seasons, even outperforming highly-rated male competitors like Maurizio Flammini in a direct confrontation at Vallelunga. These early successes demonstrated her potential and skill in open-wheel racing.
Her compelling performances continued to attract attention. Following a strong twelfth-place finish in the Monaco F3 support race, British Brands Hatch promoter John Webb extended an invitation for her to compete in the Celebrity Escort Mexico series. There, she demonstrated her superior skill by defeating established names such as future F1 driver Jacques Laffite and Mike Wilds. This led to a significant test opportunity in a ShellSPORT F5000 Lola T330, culminating in a full campaign in the competitive series in 1974, further solidifying her reputation as a formidable driver capable of competing against experienced professionals.
The Irony of Lombardi’s Historic Feat
Lombardi’s path to Formula 1 was marked by persistent effort and considerable obstacles. Her first attempt to qualify for an F1 Grand Prix came in 1974 with a privately-entered Brabham BT42/44, backed by the Automobile Club d’Italia. Despite her efforts, she failed to qualify for the British Grand Prix that year. The car notably carried sponsorship from Radio Luxembourg, which broadcast on 208 metres medium wave – a detail that humorously inspired her chosen racing number, 208, for that attempt.
The winter of 1974-75 proved pivotal. With crucial financial backing from Count Vittorio Zanon, Lombardi secured a coveted seat with March Engineering for the 1975 season, joining an experienced lineup alongside Vittorio Brambilla and Hans-Joachim Stuck. This marked a significant step up, providing her with a competitive chassis.
At the season-opening South African Grand Prix in Kyalami, Lombardi achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first woman since Maria Teresa de Filippis to qualify for a World Championship Grand Prix. However, it was at the controversial 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, held at the challenging Montjuïc street circuit in Barcelona, that she etched her name into the record books. The race was marred by serious safety concerns over the temporary guardrails, leading to a drivers’ strike and a chaotic start. On lap 26, a catastrophic accident involving Rolf Stommelen’s Embassy Hill GH1 resulted in the car crashing into the crowd, tragically killing four spectators.
The race was immediately stopped. Due to the event not completing 75% of its scheduled distance, only half points were awarded. Lombardi, who was running in a highly commendable sixth position at the time of the stoppage, was officially classified sixth, thus earning her 0.5 World Championship points. This achievement made her the first – and to date, only – woman to score points in Formula 1. The irony of her historic half-point, earned under such tragic and unprecedented circumstances, remains a poignant footnote in her remarkable career, underscoring both her talent and the unpredictable nature of motorsport.
She continued to deliver solid performances throughout the 1975 season, including a notable seventh-place finish at the formidable Nürburgring Nordschleife, further demonstrating her capability in demanding conditions. Beyond her on-track achievements, Lombardi was also recognized as one of the first racing drivers to be openly in a same-sex relationship, further underscoring her pioneering spirit and role as a trailblazer both within and outside the competitive confines of motorsport.
The Long Road Ahead: A New Era for Women in Motorsport
Since Lella Lombardi’s impactful tenure, only three other women have attempted to qualify for a Formula 1 Grand Prix: Divina Galica, a British Olympic skier who made three attempts between 1976 and 1978; Desire Wilson, a South African who attempted the 1980 British Grand Prix; and Giovanna Amati, an Italian who made three attempts in 1992. This remains a remarkably short list, highlighting the immense challenges faced by women aspiring to the highest echelons of motorsport for decades, often battling not only on-track competition but also significant financial and systemic barriers.
However, the landscape is now showing signs of a significant, long-overdue transformation. Initiatives such as the F1 Academy, a dedicated junior single-seater series for women launched in 2023, are gaining substantial momentum. This series, featuring identical Tatuus F4-T421 chassis and Pirelli tyres, provides a crucial platform for young female talent to develop competitive skills and gain experience in a professional environment, with the goal of progressing into higher categories like Formula 3 and Formula 2, and ultimately, Formula 1. With increasing visibility and structured support for women across all areas of the sport – from engineering and strategy to driving and management – the foundations courageously laid by early pioneers like Lella Lombardi are finally paving the way for a broader and more inclusive future in Formula 1. The quiet persistence of those who came before is now being amplified by dedicated programs and a collective commitment to dismantle historical barriers, promising a more diverse and equitable era for motorsport.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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