Jamie Chadwick experienced what she described as "the best day of my life so far" when she got behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car for the first time, piloting a Williams machine at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão, Portugal. The 28‑year‑old British driver, who also serves as a Williams ambassador and a Sky Sports F1 analyst, completed 32 laps in the team's 2025 chassis under the FIA’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme on Monday. Chadwick’s outing marks a historic moment for women in motorsport. She is the second female driver to test an F1 car in 2024, following Doriane Pin, the reigning F1 Academy champion, who drove a 2021 Mercedes at Silverstone in April.
Chadwick also becomes the first British woman to take part in an F1 test since Jessica Hawkins ran an Aston Martin in 2023. Her involvement with Williams began in 2019 when she was appointed a development driver, and her career since then has been a string of firsts and record‑breaking achievements.
Before this test, Chadwick had already dominated the all‑female W Series, winning the championship in each of its three seasons, and in 2024 she made history by becoming the first woman to claim a victory on a road‑course event in the Indy NXT series in the United States. These successes have cemented her reputation as a trailblazer and a role model for aspiring female racers. Reflecting on the experience, Chadwick said, "It was a phenomenal day and an incredible experience.
Few things can prepare you for driving a Formula 1 car at speed around a track like Portimão, but it was everything I imagined and ten times more." She went on to express deep gratitude to the Atlassian Williams F1 Team for the opportunity, recalling how watching former Williams driver Susie Wolff step into an F1 car as a youngster had inspired her own path in racing. "I’d love to be able to do the same for the next generation, and the experience I gained today will make a real difference both to my own racing and to what I can pass on to the drivers coming through," she added. "I’m so grateful and incredibly happy with how the day went. It’s an experience I’ll remember for a very long time – I’d go as far as saying it’s been the best day of my life so far." Chadwick’s test also highlighted the broader narrative of women breaking barriers in the sport.
The last woman to take part in an F1 Friday practice session was Susie Wolff, who completed four sessions for Williams across the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The final woman to start a Grand Prix remains Italian driver Lella Lombardi, who entered the 1976 Spanish Grand Prix. By adding her name to this exclusive list, Chadwick reinforces the growing presence of women at the highest levels of motorsport.
Williams team principal James Vowles praised Chadwick’s achievement, stating, "Jamie Chadwick is an inspiration for millions of women and girls who has broken records at every level, and she has thoroughly earned this F1 test opportunity with Atlassian Williams F1 Team. Jamie gathered important data for the team as F1 prepares to return to Portimão next year, and her feedback and performance were impressive as we knew they would be.
This clearly shows there is a path for women to compete at the top level, and I look forward to seeing how Jamie uses this experience to advance her own driving and advise our young drivers on what it takes to drive an F1 car." In a pre‑test interview with Sky Sports, Chadwick detailed the preparation that went into the day. She spent half a day in the simulator to get accustomed to the car’s seat and controls, and she intensified her neck‑strength training, a crucial aspect for handling the extreme g‑forces of an F1 machine. "Obviously racing LMP2, I train my neck anyway, but that is naturally stepped up for an F1 test," she explained.
"George Russell helped me a little with the preparation. I woke up the next morning after the first proper day of neck training I did with him, and I could barely move my head!" She emphasized how demanding the physical preparation is, noting that drivers must condition both body and mind to cope with the intense forces and rapid decision‑making required at speed. Chadwick had already raced at Portimão in the European Le Mans Series, giving her a familiarity with the circuit’s undulating layout. She recounted conversations with fellow drivers, including Ollie Bearman, who described the track as mentally taxing due to its constant flow and changing elevations.
"It’s very busy in the mind," Chadwick said, adding that most drivers simply advise each other to enjoy the experience. Beyond the test itself, Chadwick believes her involvement with Formula 1 enriches her broader motorsport career.
Her role as a Sky Sports analyst provides daily exposure to F1 technology, strategy, and data, which she says has helped her improve across all disciplines she competes in. "I feel like I learn a huge amount from Formula 1 just generally in the role that I have with Sky Sports, which has helped me a lot in all the other stuff that I’m doing.
But I think this is going to take a new, extreme one from that," she noted. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to unfold on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header of races this week.
Fans can follow the action live via Sky Sports or stream through NOW, with flexible contracts that can be cancelled at any time. Chadwick’s historic test adds another compelling storyline to a season already rich with drama, showcasing the sport’s ongoing evolution and its increasing inclusivity for talented drivers of all backgrounds.