NASCAR Cup Series driver hits out at 'segregation' in sweary rant on racing conditions

NASCAR Cup Series driver Katherine Legge has hit out at ‘segregation’ in motorsport as she reflected on the growth of the F1 Academy and female racing stars.

Legge will make her second Cup Series start this weekend at Mexico City, but ahead of her return to NASCAR she delivered her thoughts on female drivers in motorsport and the F1 Academy.

The F1 Academy entered its third season at the Chinese Grand Prix and has enjoyed unprecedented success in 2025, welcoming big name sponsors such as Tommy Hilfiger and Tag Heuer while also debuting their very own Netflix docu-series F1: The Academy.

Former racing driver Susie Wolff manages the all-female racing series, which aims to inspire young women to pursue a career in motorsport whilst offering a stepping stone to progress throughout motorsport’s various categories.

However, Legge has hit out at the ‘segregation’ aspect of the F1 Academy and has stated that the series must be help women progress into more competitive racing series such as F2 and IndyCar.

“[Susie Wolff] was a really good race car driver. And I don't know why she is pushing the all-female aspect," Legge told the media.

"I thought that the F1 Academy and the FIA started that as a stepping stone for women to get into the sport that wouldn't necessarily have gotten into the sport in any other way.

“Which I agreed with, OK? I hate the idea of segregation, but if it's giving them a platform to spring off to do other things, then that's great because I want them to have the opportunity and I want them to go into F3, F2, IndyCar, whatever it may be.”

READ MORE: NASCAR star Ross Chastain benefits as Team Penske driver demoted after Michigan race

Is Legge right about female participation in motorsport?

Legge also turned her attention to IndyCar and Jamie Chadwick, who recently switched to LMP2 racing despite success in Indy NXT.

The British driver has earned back-to-back wins in Barcelona and Castellet so far in 2025, but Legge has challenged her switch to sportscar racing on the basis that Chadwick claimed she was not strong enough for the current generation of IndyCar cars.

"I call bull**** on that as well. Just because I've been driving those cars and you can get strong enough," she added.

Legge also stated that she wants to help usher in the next generation of female racing drivers, and to take more action than is currently being done.

"Honestly, it's something that I'm really passionate about. Because it's bull**** the way it's happening at the moment," Legge concluded.

"And that I feel very strongly about."

READ MORE: Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson among NASCAR Cup Series stars hit with penalties at Michigan

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