Jamie Chadwick experienced what she described as "the best day of my life so far" after completing her inaugural Formula 1 test behind the wheel of a Williams car at Portugal’s Portimão circuit. The 28‑year‑old British driver, who also serves as a Williams brand ambassador and a Sky Sports F1 analyst, logged 32 laps in the team’s 2025 chassis under the FIA’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme on a Monday in the Algarve region.
Chadwick’s outing marks the second female F1 test of the year, following Doriane Pin’s April run in a 2021 Mercedes at Silverstone, and she becomes the first British woman to take an F1 car onto the track since Jessica Hawkins piloted an Aston Martin in 2023. Her journey with Williams began in 2019 when she was appointed a development driver, and she has since built an impressive résumé: she swept all three seasons of the all‑female W Series and, in 2024, broke new ground by becoming the first woman to win a road‑course event in the US‑based Indy NXT championship. 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 added that she felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Atlassian Williams F1 Team for the opportunity, noting that watching former Williams driver Susie Wolff step into an F1 car as a youngster had been a pivotal source of inspiration for her own career.
"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 explained. The significance of Chadwick’s test extends beyond personal achievement. James Vowles, Williams’ team principal, praised her as an "inspiration for millions of women and girls," emphasizing that her record‑breaking progress at every level earned her the chance to gather valuable data for the team as Formula 1 prepares to return to Portimão next season.
Vowles highlighted that her feedback was as impressive as anticipated and underscored that her participation demonstrates a clear pathway for women to compete at the sport’s highest tier. In preparation for the test, Chadwick detailed a rigorous regimen that combined simulator work, seat‑fit sessions, and intensive physical conditioning.
"I did half a day in the sim, the seat fit and all the kind of procedural stuff that you do beforehand," she told Sky Sports. "And then I have actually been upping the neck training a lot. Obviously racing LMP2, I train my neck anyway, but that is naturally stepped up for an F1 test." She credited fellow driver George Russell for assisting with her neck‑strength program, recalling that after a particularly demanding session she could barely turn her head the next morning. "It’s incredible when you realise what they are going through in terms of not just the car, but also the training that they have to do for the necks at the moment.
It’s crazy," she said. Chadwick was no stranger to the Portimão layout, having tackled it previously in the European Le Mans Series. She noted that many drivers regard the circuit as mentally demanding due to its undulating flow and constant changes of direction.
"Ollie Bearman said mentally it’s one of the toughest tracks, actually. The flow is very undulating.
There’s a lot going on. In the mind it’s very busy," she recounted, adding that the consensus among her peers was simply to enjoy the experience.
Beyond the raw thrill of speed, Chadwick emphasized how her role as a Sky Sports analyst has broadened her understanding of Formula 1 technology and strategy, knowledge that she believes will enhance her performance in other racing disciplines. "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," she said. "But I think this is going to take a new, extreme one from that." The test also placed Chadwick in a historic lineage of women who have broken barriers in F1.
Susie Wolff remains the most recent woman to take part in a Friday practice session, having competed in four sessions across the 2014 and 2015 seasons for Williams. Before Wolff, Italian driver Lella Lombardi was the last woman to start a Grand Prix, back in 1976. Chadwick’s achievement therefore adds another chapter to the slow but steady progress of female representation at the pinnacle of motorsport. Looking ahead, the 2026 Formula 1 season is already in full swing, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header weekend that includes a Saturday race in Baku.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW, offering a flexible, contract‑free viewing option. In summary, Jamie Chadwick’s first F1 test with Williams was not only a personal milestone but also a symbolic moment for women in motorsport. Her blend of skill, preparation, and passion impressed the Williams team, generated valuable data for future races, and inspired countless aspiring drivers. As she returns to her commitments in the European Le Mans Series and Indy NXT, the lessons learned at Portimão are likely to shape her future performances and continue to motivate the next generation of female racers.