Jamie Chadwick marked a historic milestone when she took the wheel of a Formula 1 car for the first time, completing a full test session with the Williams team 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 of the moment and its broader impact on the sport. The test took place under the FIA's Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) regulations, which allow teams to run older chassis for development and data‑gathering purposes. Chadwick completed 32 laps in Williams' 2025‑spec car, a machine that has already secured podium finishes for the team this season.
The session was held on a Monday, giving the team a chance to collect valuable telemetry ahead of the 2026 season, while also providing Chadwick with a rare opportunity to feel the raw performance of an F1 machine. Chadwick, 28, is only the second woman to drive a Formula 1 car in 2024. The first was Doriane Pin, the reigning F1 Academy champion, who piloted a 2021 Mercedes at Silverstone in April. Before Pin, the most recent British female to test an F1 car was Jessica Hawkins, who completed a run in an Aston Martin in 2023.
Chadwick's appearance therefore continues a slow but steady trend of increasing female representation in the highest tier of motorsport. Her journey to this point began in 2019 when she joined Williams as a development driver. Since then, Chadwick has built an impressive résumé: she won three consecutive W Series championships, dominating an all‑female single‑seater series that showcases emerging talent. In 2024 she broke another barrier by becoming the first woman to win a road‑course race in the Indy NXT series, the primary feeder championship for IndyCar.
These achievements have earned her a reputation as a trailblazer and a role model for aspiring female racers. 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 Portimão, but it was everything I imagined and ten times more." She went on to thank the Atlassian Williams F1 Team, noting that watching former Williams driver Susie Wolff step into an F1 car as a teenager had inspired her own ambitions. "I’d love to be able to do the same for the next generation," she added, emphasizing how the data and insights she gathered will inform both her own racing development and the guidance she can offer to 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 Portimão next year, and her feedback and performance were impressive as we knew they would be." Vowles highlighted that Chadwick's participation underscores a clear pathway for women to compete at the sport's pinnacle.
In preparation for the test, Chadwick described a rigorous regimen that combined simulator work, physical conditioning, and specific neck‑strength training. "I did half a day in the sim, the seat fit and all the kind of procedural stuff that you do beforehand," she explained to Sky Sports. She added that the neck training was intensified for the F1 test, noting that even after a session with fellow driver George Russell, she could barely turn her head the next morning. This anecdote illustrates the extreme physical demands placed on drivers, who must endure high G‑forces while maintaining precise control.
Chadwick also drew on her previous experience at Portimão, having raced the circuit in the European Le Mans Series. She recounted conversations with other drivers, including Ollie Bearman, who described the track as mentally demanding due to its undulating layout and constant flow of corners.
"In the mind it's very busy," she said, echoing the consensus that Portimão requires both physical stamina and sharp concentration. Beyond the personal triumph, Chadwick believes her involvement with Formula 1 enriches her broader motorsport career. Her role as a Sky Sports analyst exposes her to the strategic and technical nuances of the sport, knowledge that she can apply to her own racing in LMP2 and Indy NXT. "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 remarked.
The significance of Chadwick's test extends beyond Williams. The last woman to take part in a Friday practice session was Susie Wolff, who completed four sessions for Williams during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
The most recent female driver to start a Grand Prix was Italian pioneer Lella Lombardi in 1976. By adding her name to this exclusive list, Chadwick helps to keep the conversation about gender diversity alive and demonstrates that opportunities for women in top‑level racing are expanding, albeit gradually. Looking ahead, the 2026 Formula 1 calendar continues to unfold, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku slated to start a triple‑header of races later this week.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, and the network offers flexible streaming through NOW, allowing viewers to cancel at any time without a long‑term contract. As the sport evolves, moments like Chadwick's test serve as powerful reminders that progress is possible when talent, determination, and institutional support converge.