Jamie Chadwick wants females to be in F1 'on merit'

Jamie Chadwick wants to be the first female to compete in Formula One since Lella Lombardi in 1976, but it remains her wish to reach the pinnacle of motorsport 'on merit' rather than being given special treatment because of her gender.

The 19-year-old has been making waves in the lower ranks of motorsport, having already claimed a few podium places in F3. However, it was her victory at the British GP Championship two years ago and her win at Silverstone Britcar 24 Hour which have put her on the map as a serious contender for a future F1 place.

In recent years, the path would have been more difficult, with former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone saying in 2016 that women drivers 'wouldn't be taken seriously' on the track.

Chadwick has dismissed this as an old school attitude, and believes Ecclestone has simply not seen a women who has been good enough...yet.

“He’s just old school,” Chadwick tells City A.M. when asked about Ecclestone.

“And in his defence, a female up until now has never shown the promise to make it to F1. Although he maybe shouldn’t have been outspoken because there’s a lot of younger talented girls coming through motorsport that might have been put off by his comments, for someone involved in the sport, I know that’s all it is."

She has praised the new owners of the sport, Liberty Media, for their forward-thinking attitudes towards women, but wants to prove herself capable of competing at the highest level before the F1 call comes.

“The way Liberty has taken over has been really refreshing,” she continued.

“And hopefully they want to see a female succeed because I think that’s really important for the sport. But for me it doesn’t change anything.

“If I’m scraping the barrel in F3, struggling to finish sixth or seventh next year, then I don’t deserve to be in F1. It’s as black and white as that and any of my sponsors should feel the same.

“Just because I’m a female doesn’t give me the right or a free pass to Formula One. I’ve got to be doing well, I’ve got to be winning. I want to be there on merit and not because of my gender. If I’m winning and still struggling to make it anywhere then I’ve got a bit more of an argument.”