Jamie Chadwick becomes the latest woman to drive a Formula 1 car during a testing session.
British racing driver Jamie Chadwick recently participated in a Formula 1 Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, also known as the Portimao Circuit. She drove the FW47, which is Williams' challenger from last year.
She's the first female driver to complete laps with a Williams F1 car since Susie Wolff did it in 2015. She also joins Doriane Pin as the only women to have driven an F1 car in 2026.
Chadwick was ecstatic for the opportunity, saying that it was the "best day" of her life. And for sure, it was a great day for female drivers, and the whole motorsport industry as well.
How many laps did Chadwick complete?
Chadwick completed 32 laps around the Portimao circuit. This is an important part of her duties as a development driver for Williams. She also serves as a Williams Racing Ambassador and F1 Academy Adviser, roles that made this week's test a natural next step.
Team principal James Vowles, who is busy in the middle of the team's current campaign at Baku, took the time to compliment Chadwick on her achievement. Vowles emphasized, first and foremost, that this opportunity wasn't just given to Chadwick. She earned it.
Vowles also mentioned that Chadwick actually "gathered important data" for Williams, especially with F1 returning to Portugal in 2027.
Jamie Chadwick's racing achievements
Speaking of earning her first F1 testing opportunity, let's look back at Chadwick's racing milestones.
Chadwick started karting in 2010, then won the Ginetta Junior Scholarship three years later. She was eventually called up to the British GT, and in her first year there, she became the first female to win the championship.
In 2017, Chadwick finally transitioned into single-seater racing, as she participated in the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship. She finished ninth overall, with a P3 finish at Rockingham as her best result of the season.
In 2019, Chadwick made her first F1 breakthrough by joining the Williams Driver Academy. She was signed as a development driver and worked extensively in the Williams simulator at the team's headquarters in Grove.
That same year, Chadwick won the inaugural W Series championship, scoring 110 points, which was 22 points ahead of runner-up Alice Powell.
Actually, we didn't list every achievement here, but you get the point: this opportunity wasn't just given to the British driver. Chadwick worked hard for it, and there'll be more opportunities to showcase her racing talent soon.
