F1 'ripe for change' as Blyton track hosts girls' race training
More Than Equal finds young drivers with high potential and enrols them in a fully funded driver development programme designed for female drivers founded by former F1 world champion David Coulthard. A woman has not scored points in the F1 World Championship since Lella Lombardi in 1975 but More Than Equal are "committed to changing this". Ivonn, who lives in Austria, comes from a background in racing and said her dad encouraged her when she was young to pursue it as a career.She said: "It's a difficult industry as often boys don't respect you and you have to earn their respect." Her advice for girls looking to start is "to just do it" she added, "there's nothing stopping you and if boys give you a hard time, just give them a harder time next time."
Skye wants to be the first female F1 champion and her mum Emma said the family are "fully supportive of Skye's lifestyle choice." Due to the industry being male dominated she believes: "People don't like girls being fast, it's getting better but things still happens a lot." She said: "Boys will still put her in the barrier rather than finishing behind her."They would rather they didn't finish and the girl didn't finish then finish behind the girl and get told they've just been beaten by a girl." Katrina, 15, from Hong Kong, currently races in the Ginetta Junior series and has won the Asian karting championships, she has recently recovered from a broken shoulder. She explained: "I was really proud of myself as it made me realise I can beat the boys and nothing is impossible even if you are in a male dominated sport." "I remember there was a time when two or three drivers ganged up on me just to purposely push me off and their teams would gather, plan and talk about it."Katrina said she had to tell herself not to let it knock her confidence or be afraid to push them back.
Tom Stanton believes women have struggled to reach F1 because they face funding challenges when "massively outnumbered by talented males".He said: "Our programme is unapologetically female focused, it's age and stage appropriate and we're trying to unmask the challenges we see, as for female drivers we have to do things differently." "There's no reason why we wouldn't have future champions here today, the sport is absolutely ripe for this change and we want to bring it."
Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Sevilla target out-of-favour Newcastle star on loan - as player seeks exit just a year after moving to St James' Park for £20m
Newcastle United goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos is wanted by Spanish side Sevilla. The 31-year old joined Newcastle from Nottingham Forest last summer in a deal worth £20million with Elliot Anderson heading in the opposite direction for £35m. However, Vlachodimos has only managed one appearance - as a substitute for Martin Dubravka in the Carabao Cup - and will slip further down the pecking order with the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton on an initial loan. Sevilla are exploring a loan deal of their own with Newcastle for Vlachodimos and know the Greece international is keen to move to gain more game time and get his career back on track. Newcastle are happy to let Vlachodimos go though terms have still to be agreed. Eddie Howe 's main focus is on adding at least one new striker while seeing if the club can keep Alexander Isak out of the clutches of Liverpool. He only managed one appearance for the Magpies last term after making the switch from Nottingham Forest The Premier League champions are preparing a new bid for Isak after being rebuffed over a £110m opening offer. Newcastle have been
Powys County Times
42 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Won't matter once we're all dead – Lando Norris plays down F1 title battle
Lando Norris said it does not matter if he fails to beat Oscar Piastri to the world championship because 'in 200 years we will all be dead'. Norris arrives for the concluding round before Formula One's three-week summer shutdown 16 points behind McLaren team-mate Piastri in the standings. The title momentum swung back in Piastri's favour at last weekend's rain-hit round in Belgium. Norris started on pole position but allowed Piastri to swoop past in the treacherous conditions. Norris was unable to stop Red Bull's Max Verstappen from taking his fourth consecutive championship last year, but such is McLaren's superiority, it is team-mate Piastri who has emerged as his sole rival for this season's crown. Piastri has six wins to Norris' four but when asked if he needs to get under the Australian's skin to land his maiden F1 title, Norris replied: 'I don't enjoy that. In 200 years no one is going to care. We'll all be dead. 'I am trying to have a good time. I still care about it, and that's why I get upset sometimes and I get disappointed and I get angry at myself. And I think that shows just how much I care about winning and losing. 'But that doesn't mean I need to take it out on Oscar. I just don't get into those kind of things.' Historically, intra-team title battles rarely end well in F1, but Norris continued: 'Yes, he (Piastri) is the guy I want to beat more than anyone else. 'But if I don't beat him, then that's just because he has done a better job. I will do it the way I believe is best for me, and just because one person did it a few years ago, it doesn't mean you have to do that, too. I don't really care about those things.' At the Hungaroring on Friday, Norris completed an impressive practice double – beating Piastri by just 0.019 seconds in the first session before extending his advantage to nearly three tenths later in the day. Norris has never been out-qualified by a team-mate on his six previous visits here, and he will be encouraged by his showing in practice. Over at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton has won a record eight times in Hungary and has secured nine pole positions. But the 40-year-old, who remains without a podium in Ferrari colours, struggled for pace on Friday. In the first session, he complained his car didn't 'feel good' and ran off the road at the first corner following a major lock-up. He ended the day in sixth, three tenths and as many places behind team-mate Charles Leclerc. Verstappen ended speculation he could leave Red Bull at the end of the year by committing his future there for at least another season. However, he finished a distant 14th in practice, 1.1 seconds slower than Norris. 'I don't know what is going on,' said Verstappen over the radio. 'It is just undriveable.' Verstappen is also facing a stewards' investigation after he threw a towel – seemingly left in the Dutchman's cockpit by accident – out of his car.
Powys County Times
42 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Lando Norris completes practice double at the Hungarian Grand Prix
Lando Norris completed an impressive practice double over championship rival Oscar Piastri at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Norris trails McLaren team-mate Piastri by 16 points heading into Sunday's round at the Hungaroring – the final race before the summer break. But the British driver laid down an early marker in the first running of the weekend when he beat Piastri to top spot by just 0.019 seconds. He then extended his advantage to 0.291 seconds in the day's concluding session. Norris' world championship bid suffered a setback at last weekend's rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix when Piastri overtook him on the first racing lap and went on to claim a comfortable win. However, it was Norris – never previously out-qualified by a team-mate in six visits to the Hungaroring – who stole an early advantage with an impressive performance on Friday at a circuit he has declared among his favourites on the calendar. There was one moment of concern for Norris when he ran wide at the final turn. But he managed to retake control of his McLaren, and survived without ending up in the wall. Lando Norris flirts with the barriers as he rounds the final corner 😮 No damage done and he goes on his way #F1 #HungarianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) August 1, 2025 Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, four tenths off the pace, but three places clear of team-mate Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion, who has a record eight wins and nine pole positions in Hungary, was three tenths adrift of Leclerc. In the first session, Hamilton complained his car didn't 'feel good', and ran off the road at the first corner following a major lock-up. He was then beaten by both Aston Martin drivers in the second running. Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were fourth and fifth respectively – the latter returning to his cockpit after he missed the opening session with a back injury – while George Russell ended the running in seventh. On Thursday, Max Verstappen ended speculation he could leave Red Bull at the end of the year by committing his future there for at least another season. However, he finished a distant 14th in practice, over 1.1 seconds slower than Norris. 'I don't know what is going on,' said Verstappen. 'It is just undriveable.' Verstappen is also facing a stewards' investigation after he threw a towel – seemingly left in the Dutchman's cockpit by accident – out of his car. Verstappen has been called to see the stewards at 6.20pm local time (5.20pm BST).
