F1 Academy and How Their Support is Only Growing

Supporting women in motorsports has been a large topic of conversation within this industry over the last few years. With motorsports being such a male dominated world, the need for female drivers, technicians, engineers and leaders is ever-growing. F1 Academy has been taking the necessary strides to make a space for women in this sport, and their reach is undeniably promising.

The Canadian Grand Prix was actually my first time getting to see these inspiring women take to the track. I was in awe as I watched them come around the hair pin, pushing their cars to the limits and challenging each other around the circuit. After so much discussion of how we can bring women into motorsports, this was the first time that it felt like a real possibility and that we, as an industry, are finally moving in the right direction. It felt very fitting to have the FIA announce at the Canadian Grand Prix that F1 Academy have extended their contract to race in Montreal until 2028 and the excitement around that was palpable.

Over the course of our time spent at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, the majority of it was spent lingering around the F1 Academy paddock, chatting with fans, drivers, team members and really getting a sense of how important it is to keep highlighting the efforts being made to bring women into Formula 1. We had the chance to chat with Nicole Havrda, the Canadian F1 Academy driver who, like myself, is from beautiful British Columbia. After bonding over our home town experiences, I felt a sense of camaraderie around the fact that we were just two girls from BC pursuing a career in this male dominated industry. It was inspiring to hear her story and learn about the sacrifices her family have made to get her to where she is now. Sponsored by AMEX, Havrda’s car is one of the more noticeable ones out on track with the stark contrast of the white and blue on her livery. The pressure that these young girls are facing is immense, as right now, this truly is one of their only opportunities to showcase their talents and capabilities within the sport. 

I was so impressed at the way all of the drivers carried themselves. At only 18 or 19 years old, I felt like I was talking to adults who have been professionals in the sport for years, which, to some extent, was true. All of these women have followed the same career trajectory as the men in the sport, starting karting pretty much at the same time as they learned to walk. Yet, for some incomprehensible reason, their opportunities and chances to progress through the ranks is much more challenging.

The support and excitement around F1 Academy was heartwarming to witness. The access that they give to the fans over the course of the Grand Prix weekend allows fans to come to the paddock, see the garages, and get up close to the cars. Not only that, but all of the drivers in the series are so approachable and appreciative of the support that they lend so much of their time to chatting with fans, signing autographs and taking selfies. Although these girls have a surmountable amount of pressure on them to perform, they continue to make efforts to connect with their fans and show the human side of themselves.

With the F1 Academy sessions being held at earlier times than F1, they’ve fallen victim to a lack of crowds who don’t care enough to come and watch, or worse, don’t even know that the sessions are happening. The Canadian Grand Prix was a game changer and really emphasized how great this series is as well as what it’s doing for women trying to break into racing. Fans were excited by the races, the wheel-to-wheel action was unmatched, and the flurry of people lingering outside the F1 Academy paddocks was unbelievable. With the extension of F1 Academy racing until 2028 in Canada, all of the fans they’ve continued to reach will inevitably be constant supporters of this series, coming back time and time again to see these young girls fighting for a seat they deserve. 

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