Future Faces of Formula 1: Young Women Breaking Barriers in Motorsport
Friday, 2026/03/20159 words2 minutes554 reads
Rachel Robertson is an 18-year-old British race car driver competing in F1 Academy, a championship for female drivers. She dreams of becoming the first woman in 50 years to qualify for Formula 1.
When Robertson started racing go-karts at 14, she was usually the only girl on track. Boys often didn't take her seriously as a competitor. "A lot of the time in their head, 'Oh, it's just a girl in front of me,'" she recalls. But when she won races, those same boys refused to acknowledge her success.
Dutch driver Esmee Kosterman, 20, faced similar challenges. Boys told her racing "wasn't for girls." She discovered her passion at age six, choosing the race circuit over dance classes.
F1 Academy was founded in 2023 to increase female participation in motorsport. Currently, only 10% of motorsport drivers are women. The academy provides funding, training, and track time to help talented female drivers develop their skills and advance toward Formula 1.
