Jamie Chadwick experienced what she describes as "the best day of my life so far" when she stepped into a Formula 1 car for the first time, piloting a Williams machine at Portugal's Portimão circuit. The British driver, who also serves as a Williams ambassador and Sky Sports F1 analyst, completed 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. At 28, Chadwick becomes the second female driver to test an F1 car in 2024, following Doriane Pin—who logged a run in a 2021 Mercedes at Silverstone earlier in the year—and the first British woman to do so since Jessica Hawkins took an Aston Martin onto the track in 2023. Her journey with Williams began in 2019 when she was hired as a development driver, and she has since amassed an impressive résumé: three consecutive championships in the all‑female W Series, and a historic 2024 victory in the Indy NXT road‑course event, making her the first woman to win that type of race in the American series.
"It was a phenomenal day and an incredible experience," Chadwick said after the session. "Very few things can prepare you for the sheer speed and precision required to drive an F1 car around a circuit like Portimão, but the reality exceeded every expectation—by a factor of ten. I'm profoundly grateful to Atlassian Williams F1 Team for this chance. I still remember watching Susie Wolff get into a Williams car when I was a kid; that moment sparked my own ambition.
I hope I can inspire the next generation in the same way, and the knowledge I gained today will benefit my own racing career and the drivers I mentor." She added, "I'm so thankful and thrilled with how the day unfolded. It's a memory I'll cherish for years—indeed, I would go as far as saying it's been the best day of my life so far." The context of Chadwick's test is significant. Susie Wolff remains the last woman to take part in an F1 Friday practice session, having completed four runs for Williams across the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
The previous woman to start a Grand Prix was Italy's Lella Lombardi in 1976. Team principal James Vowles praised Chadwick, stating, "Jamie is an inspiration to millions of women and girls.
She has shattered records at every level and fully earned this test with Atlassian Williams. Her data will help the team as we prepare for next year's return to Portimão, and her performance lived up to our high expectations. This demonstrates a clear pathway for women to reach the sport's pinnacle, and I look forward to seeing how she leverages this experience to improve her own driving and guide our young talent on what it takes to handle an F1 car." In a pre‑test interview with Sky Sports, Chadwick explained the preparation that went into the day. "I spent half a day in the simulator, got the seat fitted, and completed all the usual procedural checks," she said.
"Then I really focused on neck training. Racing in LMP2 already demands a strong neck, but the forces in an F1 car are a whole different beast. George Russell helped me with a dedicated neck‑strength session; after the first day I could barely move my head! It really puts into perspective how much physical conditioning drivers undergo beyond just the car itself." Chadwick had previously tackled the Portimão layout in the European Le Mans Series, giving her a familiarity with the track's undulating character.
"Ollie Bearman told me the circuit is mentally demanding because of its flowing, hilly nature—there's a lot happening at once," she recalled. "Most drivers simply say you have to enjoy it. My work with Sky Sports has taught me a great deal about F1 strategy and technology, which feeds back into my own performance. This test, however, pushes those lessons to an extreme level." Beyond the personal thrill, Chadwick's test underscores a broader shift toward greater female representation in top‑level motorsport.
Her achievements in the W Series and Indy NXT have already broken barriers, and now her presence in an F1 cockpit adds another milestone. The visibility of women like Wolff, Pin, Hawkins, and Chadwick helps challenge long‑standing stereotypes and encourages young girls to envision careers in racing, engineering, and team management. The test also provided valuable data for Williams as the team looks ahead to the 2026 season.
Under the TPC regulations, teams can run older chassis to gather aerodynamic and mechanical insights without breaching the cost cap. Chadwick's feedback on handling, tyre behaviour, and driver ergonomics will be fed into the development pipeline, potentially influencing the design of the next generation of Williams cars.
Looking forward, the 2026 Formula 1 calendar continues with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, part of a triple‑header weekend that also includes a race in Saudi Arabia. Sky Sports will broadcast the action live, and fans can stream the coverage via NOW with a flexible, no‑contract subscription. As the season unfolds, Jamie Chadwick's historic test remains a highlight, illustrating both her personal determination and the sport's evolving inclusivity.