Jamie Chadwick marked a historic milestone when she took the wheel of a Formula 1 car for the first time, piloting a Williams chassis at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão, Portugal. The British driver, who also serves as a Williams ambassador and a Sky Sports F1 analyst, described the experience as "the best day of my life so far," a sentiment that captures both the personal significance and the broader impact of her achievement. The test took place under the FIA's Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) regulations, which allow teams to run older-spec cars for data collection and development work. Chadwick completed 32 laps in the team's 2025-spec Williams, a car that has already secured podium finishes in the current season.
The session was held on a Monday, providing a relatively low-key environment that still allowed the young driver to push the machinery and gather valuable feedback. At 28 years old, Chadwick is only the second woman to drive an F1 car this year.
The first was Doriane Pin, the reigning F1 Academy champion, who piloted a 2021 Mercedes at Silverstone in April. Chadwick also follows in the footsteps of fellow Briton Jessica Hawkins, who tested an Aston Martin in 2023, making her the first British female to do so in three years. Both milestones highlight a slowly growing but still limited presence of women in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Chadwick's relationship with Williams dates back to 2019, when she joined the team as a development driver. Over the past few years she has built an impressive résumé: she dominated the all-female W Series by winning the championship in each of its three seasons, and in 2024 she broke new ground by becoming the first woman to claim a victory on a road course in the Indy NXT series in the United States. These achievements have cemented her reputation as a trailblazer and a serious competitor across multiple racing disciplines.
Reflecting on the day, 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 Portimao, but it was everything I imagined and ten times more." She went on to express deep gratitude toward the Atlassian Williams F1 Team, noting how watching Susie Wolff step into a Williams car as a teenager had inspired her own career path.
"I would love to be able to do the same for the next generation," she added, emphasizing that the data she collected and the insights she gained will not only benefit her own racing development but also serve as a teaching tool for younger drivers coming through the ranks. Williams team principal James Vowles praised Chadwick, 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 Portimao next year, and her feedback and performance were impressive as we knew they would be." Vowles highlighted that Chadwick's involvement demonstrates a clear pathway for women to compete at the highest level of motorsport, and he looks forward to seeing how she leverages the experience to advance her own career and mentor emerging talent. In the lead‑up to the test, Chadwick explained her preparation routine to Sky Sports. She spent a half‑day in the simulator to familiarize herself with the car's layout and to fine‑tune the seat fit.
More physically demanding was the neck training, which she intensified significantly for the F1 test. "Obviously racing LMP2, I train my neck anyway, but that is naturally stepped up for an F1 test," she said. She credited fellow Williams driver George Russell for assisting with the neck regimen, noting that after an especially tough session she could barely turn her head. The rigorous physical preparation underscores how modern F1 drivers must combine raw talent with elite fitness to withstand the high G‑forces experienced on circuit laps.
Chadwick also spoke about the circuit itself. Having previously raced the Algarve track in the European Le Mans Series, she described it 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. Just this flow of it is very undulating. There's a lot going on.
In the mind it's very busy," she recalled. Despite the challenge, she emphasized the importance of enjoying the experience and absorbing as much knowledge as possible. The broader context of women in F1 adds further weight to Chadwick's test. The last woman to take part in a Friday practice session was Susie Wolff, who completed four sessions across the 2014 and 2015 seasons for Williams.
Before her, Italian driver Lella Lombardi was the final woman to start a Grand Prix, back in 1976. While progress has been slow, each appearance helps chip away at the perception that F1 is an exclusively male domain. Beyond the personal triumph, Chadwick's test serves practical purposes for the team. The data collected will assist Williams as they prepare for the 2026 season, particularly as the sport looks to return to Portimão next year.
The feedback on tyre performance, aerodynamic balance, and driver ergonomics will be fed into the team's development pipeline, potentially influencing car setup choices and future design directions. Looking ahead, Chadwick's schedule remains packed. She continues to compete in the European Le Mans Series, where she drives an LMP2 prototype, and she maintains her role as a Sky Sports pundit, offering analysis that benefits from her firsthand F1 experience.
The exposure from the test is likely to boost her profile further, opening doors for potential future drives in higher categories, perhaps even a full-time F1 seat should the opportunity arise. In summary, Jamie Chadwick's inaugural F1 test with Williams was more than a personal milestone; it was a statement about the evolving role of women in motorsport, a valuable data‑gathering exercise for a leading team, and an inspirational narrative for aspiring drivers worldwide.
As the 2026 Formula 1 season unfolds, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header weekend, fans can look forward to seeing Chadwick apply the lessons learned at Portimão to both her racing endeavors and her commentary work, continuing to break barriers and set new standards in the sport.