We have all encountered the issue of sexism; it is pervasive and, despite various discussions and advances, it still exists. Another area where it is so prevalent is in sports, particularly in what are seen as “male dominated” sports—in this case, motorsport—where, despite all the incredible women, we continue to see social media posts, comments, articles, broadcasts, and many other media rife with anti-women sentiments. It’s critical to examine why such comments are still accepted and how they impact successful women in motorsport.

We don’t need to search far to find derogatory remarks made against female drivers. In the most recent posts that provided everyone with an update on Marta Garcia Lopez’s condition following a major crash in the Michelin Le Mans Cup race, many comments blamed her gender for the accident, stating that it only served to highlight the fact that women belong in the kitchen. These remarks can be seen under Motorsport.com’s crash coverage post, which further demonstrates that some people’s top focus, especially during important situations like a major collision, is to minimize their skills and place the blame on someone’s gender.

This extends beyond female drivers as well, as journalists, content producers, hospitality staff, team members, and fans have posted and had comments disparaging them. Every day is filled with sexist remarks, as if telling a woman she doesn’t belong is a novel idea. It certainly doesn’t help that women are still portrayed in a way that permits this attitude to persist in a number of media outlets. The notion that we participate in sports for male validation, illicit favors, male attractiveness, or to obtain a “golden meal ticket” is repulsive and untrue. 

Numerous young women are demonstrating their abilities and increasing the spotlight on the need for women in the driver’s seat with the F1 Academy racing series, which has received a lot of support from other drivers, teams, employees, fans, racing series, and more. We can see the significance of the racing series, but it is not without its drawbacks. Many complain that these drivers aren’t given opportunities after they leave the series, but this isn’t totally accurate considering that the Al Qubaisi sisters compete in the Ligier European Series, Bianca Bustamante is training for the GB3 championship, and Emely De Heus is getting ready for her GT racing debut.

Changes and opportunists are evident in F1 Academy, but some media continue to promote a narrative. As many people remember, during the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, F1 Academy Races, a number of commentators made disparaging comments that fans quickly pointed out. Many people remember the race for its comments more than its outcomes. Examples include hair being pulled up, makeup being worn, and female supporters being chastised for “being on their phones” and not paying attention. These remarks are intended to demean women, minimize their abilities, and give the impression that one is more significant than the other.

Alongside this are the repulsive behaviors of those that attend these races. As of right now, we have learned of multiple instances when a number of girls were harassed throughout the grand prix weekend by inappropriate remarks, unwanted physical contact, yelling at them from rejection, and other forms of harassment. Because of the dangerous treatment and the FIA’s and Grand Prix officials’ lack of response, attending an F1 Grand Prix has lost some of its appeal. Although finding a secure solution may not be quick and simple, attempting to stop these occurrences is preferable to pretending that the problem was minor or nonexistent. It’s an unfortunate reality to encounter a lot of hostility for simply being a woman, but as time has shown, women aren’t giving up.

Maria Teresa de Filippis, Hazel Chapman, Maria de Violetta, Ann Bradshaw, Giovanna Amati, Claire Williams, Monisha Kaltenborn, Naomi Schiff, Susie Wolff, Hanna Schmitz, Laura Winter, Natalie Pinkham, Ruth Buscombe, Laura Mueller, and countless other accomplished women serve as role models for us all. Women have always been there and will continue to be there, therefore the list may go on forever. If there isn’t a seat available, we will create one because we deserve it just as much as everyone else.

We will keep having this conversation because so many people from all walks of life have had successful careers in all facets of sports. It is also evident from the overwhelming amount of support that women receive in the media that they belong and have demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that all it takes is one word and action to bring about change. As Laura Winters once said, “To the women and girls in motorsport, to the huge and growing numbers of female fans in this sport, this is a good reminder for all of us that we are here to stay and that we are right where we belong.”