The Truth About Getting to F1

The truth about getting to F1 is one of the topics in this week’s Driver Development Roundup.

I also cover the release of the More Than Equal report on female participation in motorsport, how F1 driver academies work and the launch of the F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive program.

All this and more in this week’s Driver Development Roundup on Motorsport Prospects.


The Truth About Getting to F1

In the video above, Enzo Mucci discusses the path to making it to Formula 1 and offers some valuable advice. “Making it to Formula 1 is obviously not easy. Here are some truths about it and how you can get there.”


Driver Development Roundup

More Than Equal has revealed the results of their study to explore first-hand, the experience and perceptions to female entry, development, and participation in elite-level motorsport. “Success in elite motorsport is incredibly difficult. We’re not trying to make it easier for women, we’re just trying to make it equally difficult. To achieve our goals, we’re always going to be guided by evidence. The Inside Track report is just the start. Over the coming months we’ll use this insight to launch a number of important programmes aimed at breaking the biases.”

BlackBook Motorsport summarizes the report which states that women in motorsport face significant barriers to entry. “The report mentions that many women in motorsport have a very low degree of confidence in the sport when it comes to its culture, particularly around inclusion. Many find the environment within the sport unwelcoming.”

Planet F1 meanwhile in their coverage of the report state that the FIA and F1 have been urged to do more after an international survey suggested just one sport was doing less for women. The survey suggests that aspects like the F1 Academy have not been publicized enough, with 76% of responders aware of it, but just 12% knew what it did.

As well as publishing the results, More than Equal made some suggestions on what motorsport could do to promote female engagement and they put forward more grassroots participation such as financially accessible karting for all, more data and research, more recognition of the cultural change needed such as improving female facilities at karting tracks, more support for talented young female drivers and more collaboration between the sport’s leaders.”

You can download the report here.


Driver Development Roundup

Have you ever wondered how F1 driver academies worked? Give Me Sport looks into the details. “F1 driver academies are specialised programs designed by Formula 1 teams to identify and develop promising young drivers with the potential to become future stars in the sport. These academies, established by various teams, serve as breeding grounds for young talents, providing them with the necessary guidance, resources, and opportunities to develop their skills and ultimately compete at the highest level of motorsport.”


Driver Development Roundup

F1 Academy launched F1 Academy Discover Your Drive to media and industry stakeholders at an event in London’s Docklands last week. Announced in June, the global initiative aims to increase the female talent pool in motorsport. It will offer girls and young women the opportunity to take part in entry-level programmes and professional schemes to promote female participation in the sport both on and off track.

At the event, held at TeamSport Docklands, a group of nine girls aged 8-12 who have been selected to participate in the pilot programme, took to the track for the first time in front of Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy, Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, Dominic Gaynor, CEO of TeamSport, and Greg Smith, Co-Chair of APPG for Motorsport.

Managing Director of F1 Academy, Susie Wolff: “It’s great to see F1 Discover Your Drive come to life for the very first time. This is the start of our journey to increase female participation in motorsport. Seeing the young girls out on track, and the potential this programme can have makes me really positive about what we can achieve with this initiative.”


Motor Sport Magazine looks at how motor sport is welcoming LGBTQ+ drivers. “Motor sport hasn’t always been the happiest of homes for LGBTQ+ athletes. As Pride Month comes to an end, Stephen Dobie hears some of their fears and hopes as the sport targets greater inclusivity for drivers and fans alike.”


Mark Boudreau
Author: Mark Boudreau

Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.