For over 75 years, Formula 1 has been seen as the ultimate test of speed, precision, and engineering genius—but it’s long been a boys’ club. Now, as F1’s global audience explodes, a new generation is asking: Where are the women?
While only a handful have raced at the top level, many influential women have shaped the sport in groundbreaking ways—both on and off the track. From Italy’s first female F1 driver to Red Bull’s strategic genius, these six women didn’t just make history—they redefined it.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just F1-curious, here are the trailblazing women in Formula 1 that every Malaysian Gen Z and Millennial should know.
💬 “Representation matters. When women see themselves in motorsport, it becomes an achievable dream—not just a distant fantasy,” says Jamie Chadwick, three-time W Series champion and development driver for Williams Racing.
1. Maria Teresa de Filippis – F1’s First Female Driver
Long before hashtags and sponsorship deals, there was Maria Teresa de Filippis, the first woman to ever race in a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
- Nationality: Italian
- F1 Debut: 1958 Monaco Grand Prix
- Notable Finish: 10th place at the 1958 Belgian GP
- Legacy: Vice-president of the International Club of Former F1 Grand Prix Drivers
She got behind the wheel to prove her brothers wrong—and ended up making motorsport history. Though she retired early, her legacy continues to inspire every woman who dares to chase speed.
🧠 Fun Fact: Only five women have competed in an official F1 Grand Prix.
2. Lella Lombardi – The Only Woman to Score F1 Points
Born into a working-class family, Lella Lombardi started by delivering meat in her dad’s van—then drove straight into F1 history.
- F1 Career: 1974–1976
- Record: First (and only) woman to score F1 championship points
- Scored: 0.5 points at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix
- Post-F1: Founded her own racing team, Lella Lombardi Autosport
Her sixth-place finish in a race shortened by tragedy made her a symbol of resilience in a high-stakes sport. She proved that talent, not gender, determines performance.
3. Monisha Kaltenborn – First Female Team Principal in F1
Monisha Kaltenborn never planned to work in racing—she was a lawyer. But her sharp legal mind soon made her one of the most powerful figures in the paddock.
- Nationality: Indian-Austrian
- Team: Sauber F1
- Position: CEO (2010), Team Principal (2012)
- Notable Drivers Managed: Nico Hülkenberg, Marcus Ericsson
She broke the glass ceiling of F1 management, showing that women can lead in one of the most high-pressure environments in global sport.
💬 “F1 is all about performance, not personality. When you’re competent, gender becomes irrelevant.” — Monisha Kaltenborn, in an interview with BBC Sport
4. Hannah Schmitz – The Brains Behind Red Bull’s Race Strategy
You’ve seen the wins, but behind every perfect pit stop and bold tyre call is someone like Hannah Schmitz, Red Bull Racing’s principal strategy engineer.
- Education: Mechanical Engineering, University of Cambridge
- Joined Red Bull: 2009
- Promoted to Strategy Chief: 2021
- Famous For: Her game-changing call at the 2022 Hungarian GP, where Verstappen won from P10
From pit wall pressure to split-second decisions, Schmitz proves that intelligence and nerves of steel are just as vital as horsepower in F1.
5. Marta García – The First F1 Academy Champion
Marta García is the poster girl for what F1’s future could look like. She dominated the inaugural F1 Academy season and is now climbing the racing ladder with real momentum.
- Team: PREMA Racing
- F1 Academy 2023 Wins: 8 races, 12 podiums
- Current Series: Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA)
- Highlight: Crowned the first-ever F1 Academy Champion
Her journey is proof that all-female series like F1 Academy aren’t just symbolic—they’re launchpads.
6. Laura Müller – F1’s First Female Race Engineer
In 2025, Laura Müller made history as the first-ever female race engineer in F1, working with Haas F1 Team’s Esteban Ocon.
- Nationality: German
- First F1 Role: Haas simulator engineer (2022)
- Promotion: Performance Engineer → Race Engineer (2025)
- Background: Experience in LMP2, DTM, GT3 and more
Race engineers are the drivers’ right hand—managing telemetry, strategy, and communication. Müller’s rise is a rare but vital win for women in F1 technical roles.
