P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sir Jackie Stewart believes “there is no reason a woman can’t be in Formula 1” and that increased participation in karting is a key stepping stone to a more diverse F1.
Sir Jackie Stewart advocates for more women in Formula 1, stating that the championship needs a more diverse driver cohort and access to karting is crucial for this. He points out the growth of grassroots motorsport providing opportunities for younger drivers to progress to F1. While there has been an increase in opportunities for women in motorsport, achieving gender parity with men is still a work in progress. Series like F1 Academy and W-Series have raised the profile of young female drivers, but Giovanna Amati was the last woman to enter an F1 race in 1992. Lella Lombardi, in 1976, was the last woman to start a race in F1 and score championship points. Stewart highlights the financial barrier in karting as a significant challenge for women aiming to advance in motorsport, emphasizing the need for greater female participation to see them succeed in F1.
