Jamie Chadwick marked a historic milestone when she stepped into a Formula 1 car for the first time 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 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 machines for data‑gathering purposes.
Chadwick completed 32 laps in the team's 2025 chassis, pushing the car around the fast, flowing layout that is famed for its combination of high‑speed straights and technical corners. The session was part of Williams' preparation for the 2026 season, with the data she generated expected to aid the team as they head back to Portimão next year.
At 28, Chadwick becomes only the second woman to drive an F1 car this calendar year. Earlier in April, Doriane Pin, the reigning F1 Academy champion, piloted a 2021 Mercedes at Silverstone, while in 2023 Jessica Hawkins took an Aston Martin onto the track.
Chadwick's test also makes her the first British female driver to do so since Hawkins, underscoring her role as a trailblazer for women in motorsport. Chadwick's relationship with Williams dates back to 2019, when she first joined the outfit as a development driver.
Since then, her résumé has expanded dramatically. She dominated the all‑female W Series, winning the championship in each of its three seasons, and in 2024 she broke new ground by becoming the first woman to claim victory in a road‑course race in the U.S.‑based Indy NXT series. These achievements have cemented her reputation as a versatile and determined competitor across multiple racing disciplines. Reflecting on the test, 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 expressed deep gratitude to the Atlassian Williams F1 Team for the opportunity, noting that watching former Williams driver Susie Wolff step into an F1 car as a youngster had inspired her own career path. "I would love to be able to do the same for the next generation," she added, emphasizing how the knowledge gained from the test will inform both her own racing and the mentorship she provides to emerging talent. 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.
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 preparation for the test, Chadwick described a rigorous regimen that combined simulator work, seat‑fit sessions, and intensive physical conditioning, particularly for her neck. "I did half a day in the sim, the seat fit and all the kind of procedural stuff that you do beforehand," she explained. "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. George Russell's been helping me a little bit 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!" The physical demands of piloting an F1 car are extreme. Drivers experience lateral G‑forces that can exceed 5 g in high‑speed corners, requiring not only raw strength but also precise muscular endurance.
Chadwick's comment about the neck training highlights how even seasoned racers must adapt their conditioning when moving between categories such as LMP2 and Formula 1. Having previously raced at Portimão in the European Le Mans Series, Chadwick was already familiar with the circuit's challenging characteristics.
She noted, "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. But most have just said to enjoy it." The Algarve layout demands a blend of bravery and concentration, with rapid elevation changes and a mix of slow, technical sections and blistering straights that test a driver's car control and mental stamina. Beyond the personal thrill, Chadwick believes the test will have lasting implications for her broader career.
Her work as a Sky Sports F1 pundit has given her a unique perspective on the sport's technical and strategic nuances. "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 said.
The insight gained from handling an F1 car's sophisticated aerodynamics, brake-by-wire systems, and hybrid power unit will undoubtedly enrich her commentary and analysis. The significance of Chadwick's test also resonates historically. The last woman to take part in a Friday practice session in F1 was Susie Wolff, who completed four sessions for Williams across the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Before Wolff, Italian driver Lella Lombardi became the final woman to start a Grand Prix in 1976.
Chadwick's appearance therefore continues a slow but steady progression toward greater female representation at the pinnacle of motorsport. Looking ahead, Chadwick hopes her achievement will inspire more women to pursue careers in racing, engineering, and team management.
"I'm incredibly 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," she concluded.
Her words echo the sentiment that breaking barriers in a traditionally male‑dominated arena can open doors for future generations, turning a singular moment behind the wheel into a catalyst for lasting change. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to unfold with excitement, as Sky Sports F1 brings live coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the opening race of a triple‑header weekend that also includes the Baku sprint.
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