Williams development driver Jamie Chadwick Returns to W-Series Amidst Lack of Funding for F2 or F3

Formula One is a tough spot to get into, as there are multiple factors required to get a drive. Sometimes these factors are not in your control and you may lose out on your drive in the sport in many ways. Recently Williams development driver Jamie Chadwick announced she will take part in her 3rd season in the W series.

Chadwick will race in the new Jenner Racing team for the 2022 season. Her return to the series caught many by surprise as she had won the series last season comprehensively.

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Williams Junior driver gives the reason behind her return to the W series

Jamie took to social media to provide the reason behind the return to the series. After winning the championship last season, the logical step for the improvement of her career would have been racing in the junior formula series.

She was aiming to become the first female driver to race in Formula One since Lella Lombardi in 1976. But she mentioned that the reason that she is joining the W series again and not Formula One is funding.

“Hi everyone, firstly thank you for the support after the announcement that I will be coming back to the W series with Jenner Racing. I’ve read a lot of the comments and there is a lot of frustration that I haven’t been able to progress up into the next step in Formula Three or Formula Two,” said Chadwick.

“Trust me, I hear it. I know. I also wanted to make that step and I made no secret of that when I won the championship last year. To be completely honest, in the short space of time that we had, we weren’t able to secure the funding that we needed. Yeah, of course, it means that I’m coming back to W Series. But I don’t see that as a backward step.

“I think it’s still another opportunity to be racing. To be trying to, you know, raise the budget and the funding to then go to the next step, which I still believe is possible,” said the Williams development driver.

Jamie Chadwick reveals her future plans in the motorsport world

After failing to secure a seat at the pinnacle of motorsport, Jamie revealed that she will go for her third title in the W series.

“And even if not in Europe, in America. I think there are so many opportunities still. So I’m so very grateful for W Series. Honestly, I wouldn’t be racing in the first place without them. 

“So the fact we can even have this discussion about me going to F3 or F2 is something two to three years ago I wouldn’t have had. Obviously this year it’s not going to be F3 or F2. But maybe next year it will. So yeah, keep supporting and fingers crossed. We can bring that third title back,” said the W series champion.

It is sad for a talented driver like Chadwick to not get her shot in the Formula Series. It is important for the sport to give more chances to female drivers going forwards to promote diversity. But let’s see how the British driver performs on her return to the W series.

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