Jamie Chadwick made history by completing a Formula 1 test with Williams at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. The British driver ran 32 laps in the team’s 2025 FW47 as part of the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Chadwick became only the second woman to test a Williams F1 car, following Susie Wolff in 2015, and the first British woman since Jessica Hawkins in 2023 to drive modern Formula 1 machinery. This opportunity underscores the growing presence of women in top-level motorsport and highlights Williams’ commitment to nurturing female talent.
Her relationship with Williams dates back to 2019 when she joined as a development driver, later taking on ambassadorial and F1 Academy advisory roles. In preparation for the test, Chadwick underwent extensive simulator work, physical training, and a seat fitting at Williams’ Grove headquarters before heading to Portugal.
The test also provided valuable data for the team ahead of Portimao’s return to the F1 calendar in 2027. Chadwick gathered technical feedback throughout her running, contributing to the team’s preparations for the venue. This dual role as driver and technical contributor added extra significance to the outing.
"It was a phenomenal day and an incredible experience," Chadwick said. "Few things can prepare you for driving a Formula 1 car at speed around a track like Portimao, but it was everything I imagined and 10 times more. I’m incredibly grateful to Atlassian Williams F1 Team for this opportunity. I remember being young and watching Susie Wolff step into a Williams F1 car and how much that inspired my own journey."
Chadwick’s career has been defined by breaking barriers. She became the first female British GT champion in 2015 before winning three consecutive W Series titles from 2019 to 2022. She then moved to Indy NXT with Andretti Autosport, becoming the first woman in 13 years to contest the championship full-time and scoring a breakthrough victory at Road America in 2024. More recently, she has competed in the European Le Mans Series with IDEC Sport, becoming the first female driver to win an LMP2 class race in the championship. Earlier this year, she became the first woman to drive a Hypercar in the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day and currently serves as a reserve driver for Genesis Magma Racing’s FIA World Endurance Championship programme.
Williams team principal James Vowles praised Chadwick’s performance and the importance of the opportunity. "Jamie Chadwick is an inspiration for millions of women and girls who has broken records at every level, and she has thoroughly earned this F1 test opportunity with Atlassian Williams F1 Team," Vowles said. "Jamie gathered important data for the team as F1 prepares to return to Portimao next year, and her feedback and performance were impressive as we knew they would be. This clearly shows there is a path for women to compete at the top level, and I look forward to seeing how Jamie uses this experience to advance her own driving and advise our young drivers on what it takes to deliver at the highest level."
Read Also
Rafael Camara tampil impresif di kualifikasi F2 dengan lima pole, tetapi insiden dan start buruk membuatnya tertinggal di klasemen. Simak refleksi musimnya.
Lewis Hamilton ditegur FIA karena impeding berbahaya terhadap Liam Lawson di GP Azerbaijan. Aturan energi 2026 dan tata letak Baku jadi penyebab utama.
Red Bull konfirmasi upgrade F1 2026 terakhir di Azerbaijan, alihkan fokus ke mobil 2027. Mekies dan Wache beri komentar.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!