In Search of the Next Danica Patrick, Gunther Steiner Encourages More Female Drivers to Encounter Major Grassroot Problems

One aspect where American motorsport leagues have a hands-down advantage over the European-dominated F1 is women’s participation. IndyCar was way ahead of its time when Danica Patrick did not just make a place for herself in the league but also inspired an entire generation of aspiring female motorists. Haas boss Guenther Steiner recognizes the disparity in F1 very well and demands a movement to ensure that the pinnacle of motorsport gets its own Danica Patrick soon.

The newest rising star in women’s motorsport is none other than 3-time W-Series champion Jamie Chadwick. Chadwick is currently competing in Indy NXT (formerly called Indy Lights). While the entire experience of competing among men has caught her by surprise, the aim to one day reach F1 is unfettered. It is also heartening to know that she has the backing of Williams, one of the oldest F1 teams still in existence. Steiner, however, feels that it would take generations for a female driver to reach F1 given the current arrangement.

Guenther Steiner reveals his desire to have a female driver on his team

In the modern F1 era, Susie Wolff got the closest to competing when Williams signed her as their development driver. Susie also drove in a couple of practice sessions when under Williams’ employment. However, that sadly was the highest she could reach in F1. Guenther, however, recognizes the untapped marketing potential of having a female driver.

“From a marketing perspective, that would be magical,” Nextgen-Auto quoted Steiner as saying. “But at the moment there just isn’t. Rather than talking about a matter of years, Formula 1 is two or three generations behind in that quest.” [Translated using Google]

“There are thousands of child boys racing karting and only 20 make it to the top. We need to create a big movement for women.” He added, “We can’t kid ourselves that this will happen in two or three years. We are two or three, or maybe five or six generations behind today.”

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Chadwick, currently competing in America, lauded the female drivers there for the space they have created for themselves.

Jamie Chadwick takes inspiration from American female motorsport drivers

Having ruled the W Series 3 years straight, the promotion to Indy NXT was only natural in Jamie’s case. However, the challenge of competing among the best upcoming drivers and adapting to an entirely different kind of car was a bit much. But the winner’s mentality encourages her to give her everything to reach the top again.

In an interview with BBC from earlier this year, Jamie said, “It’s going to be a tough year, it’s my first year, there’s a lot of new things for me but at the same time I want to have that chance to be competitive and to be fighting at the front.”

“I think if I look at what women have achieved in the sport in America, it’s significant,” she added. “There are a lot of women that have progressed in the sport over there so I see a very clear opportunity and I’m looking forward to that.”

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Taking steps like establishing female-only driver academies with top coaches is a need of the hour. Otherwise, F1 will continue to rue the absence of women’s participation.