Formula 1 did not support the financially struggling W Series this year, but is looking to launch a potential rival next year.
F1 is exploring adding an all-female racing series as soon as 2023. It would have no affiliation with the W Series, which ended its 2022 season three races early due to financial difficulties.
- The new series would be for drivers aged 16 to 22 and include around 12-to-15 drivers.
- The series would seek to place drivers in Formula 2 and Formula 3.
F2 has had one female driver this year, Tatiana Calderon, while F3 doesn’t have any. No female driver has raced in F1 since Lella Lombardi at the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix.
W Takes an L
The W Series, which coordinated with F1 to race in the same locations and weekends as F1 for much of its season, shut down earlier this month, canceling a race in Austin, Texas, alongside the U.S. Grand Prix and two races in Mexico City.
The series said that “the required funding due to the business from a recent contracted investment was not received.”
Mercedes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton criticized F1 owner Liberty Media for not doing more to support the W Series.
“I think we need to be doing more,” said Hamilton, “with Formula 1 and Liberty doing so well, it’s not a lot for them to be able to help out in that space.”
