“Only a matter of time,” F1 Academy driver Nerea Marti hopeful of women finally making it to Formula 1

Nerea Marti will be racing in the F1 Academy series with the Campos team.

“Only a matter of time,” F1 Academy driver Nerea Marti hopeful of women finally making it to Formula 1

Nerea Marti

Men have dominated Motorsport for decades. But things are starting to change as there is a push to promote women in the racing world. The new F1 Academy series is one of the newest initiatives to encourage female participation and to provide a ladder for women to F1. Nerea Marti, a Spanish racing driver who will compete in the F1 academy in 2023, is hopeful that things will change for the better.

Marti was a formidable challenger in the all-female W series and clinched 3 podiums. The 21-year-old acknowledged that the series was a good start for providing a platform for female drivers, despite its financial struggles. She stated, “There has been a big change since W-series and it is visible. We are in the right direction.” Nerea Marti observed more girls in karting schools now. The Spanish driver said, “Now there are many more girls”.

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The F1 Academy series is a ray of hope for millions of women who dream of racing in F1

Moreover, the 21-year-old was confident that women would soon get the chance to race at the pinnacle of motorsport once again. Nerea Marti explained, “It is a matter of time. Very important changes are being made and it is only a matter of time before a woman rises to the top.” Many talented women are now big faces in the racing scene, such as Jamie Chadwick and Alice Powell.

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“Boys finish some races very badly and I felt absolutely fine,” Nerea Marti on driver physique 

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Marti finished P4 and P7 in the W series standings in 2021 and 2022, respectively

Physical strength becomes a major factor in the higher ranks of motorsport. A few find it difficult to race the tremendous beats of Formula 1. Carmen Jorda had previously found Formula E cars less challenging than F1 machinery. However, women such as Susie Wolff and Tatiana Calderon have driven F1 cars without any issues. Nerea Marti mentioned that she has seen male drivers find some races more difficult than herself.

The 21-year-old continued, “In the categories I’ve competed in, I’ve never had a problem with physique. In fact, on several occasions, I have seen boys finish some races very badly and I felt absolutely fine. But I’m talking about my experience, in other competitions I don’t know.” As such, Nerea Marti has not found any extra physical pressure on herself during her racing career so far as she sets her sight on winning the F1 Academy this season.

Thus, Nerea Marti is one of the promising female talents in motorsport. The 21-year-old will make her debut with the Campos team in the F1 Academy series. The series kicks off at the season opener at the Red Bull Ring in Austria with 15 skilled women. Undoubtedly the future of women in the world of motorsport is bright as fans await the first female F1 driver of the new millennia.

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