Jamie Chadwick becomes first woman to test Williams F1 car since 2015

Jamie Chadwick became the first woman to test a Williams F1 car since Susie Wolff in 2015, completing 32 laps at Portimao on Monday. The 28-year-old, a three-time W Series champion, drove the team's 2025 car under F1's Testing of Previous Cars rule.

Why it matters:

This test marks another step forward for women in F1. Chadwick has been part of the Williams driver academy since 2019 and now advises the team's F1 Academy program, so the experience will directly benefit the next generation. It also gave Williams valuable data ahead of Portimao's return to the calendar next year.

The details:

• Chadwick called the day "the best day of my life" and "a dream I've had since I was a little girl."
• She is the latest woman to test F1 machinery, following F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin, who drove a 2021 Mercedes at Silverstone in April.
• No woman has started an F1 race since Lella Lombardi in 1976; Williams' Susie Wolff was the last woman to drive during a grand prix weekend, with four practice sessions in 2014-15.
• Chadwick also has wins in Indy NXT and the European Le Mans Series LMP2 class.

What's next:

Chadwick said she hopes to inspire the next generation like Wolff inspired her. Williams team principal James Vowles praised her feedback and performance, saying the test proves "there is a path for women to compete at the top level." The data gathered will help the team prepare for the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2026.