Jamie Chadwick, competitor in Indy NXT, spoke with Naomi Schiff, presenter of Sky Sports F1, about the positive influence of the former women-exclusive series W Series on female representation in motorsport. Schiff interviewed Chadwick as part of Sky Sports Editions, a series that features original stories of female athletes intertwined with the world of fashion, with each athlete designing their own magazine cover. Both Schiff and Chadwick competed in the W Series, a single-seater category exclusively for women that ran from 2019 to 2021 before facing financial difficulties. Chadwick, who won all three driver titles in the W Series, used her success as a springboard to compete in the Indy NXT Series in the United States. She will begin her second season with Andretti this weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida. Schiff, on the other hand, pursued a career in broadcast journalism and is a prominent figure in Sky Sports F1 coverage. Both Schiff and Chadwick acknowledge the significant impact of the W Series on women in motorsport, as it provided a platform to showcase the capabilities and opportunities available for women in the sport. They credit the W Series for their current positions and achievements.
Following the success of the W Series, the F1 Academy series has taken the lead in promoting female participation in motorsport. This single-seater category exclusively for women is now in its second season, starting in Saudi Arabia. The initiative has received support from all 10 F1 teams, as well as renowned brands like Puma, Tommy Hilfiger, and Charlotte Tilbury. The F1 Academy races are now broadcast worldwide, with all seven stages taking place during Grand Prix weekends.
In addition to her responsibilities at Indy NXT, Chadwick has launched a karting program exclusively for girls in the UK. While she aims to focus on her own racing career, she also has a strong desire to inspire young girls at a grassroots level within the motorsport community. Chadwick explains: “On one hand, I am driven by personal ambition and the desire to achieve success as a racing driver. On the other hand, I believe there is still much to be done in the world of sports. My ultimate goal is to see more women reaching the highest level of the sport and inspiring the younger generation to get involved. This applies not only to drivers, but also to mechanics, engineers, and all other aspects of the sport. We need to create equal opportunities for everyone to participate in the sport we all love.”
Chadwick’s initiative is aligned with the broader movement in motorsport to improve female representation. The F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive karting program and the More Than Equal Female Driver Development Program are also dedicated to discovering and nurturing the first female Formula 1 World Champion.
