Danica Patrick unsure whether F1 Academy will ‘actually produce’ an F1 driver

Danica Patrick reckoned there's still a long way to go for F1 Academy drivers before making it to F1.

Danica Patrick unsure whether F1 Academy will ‘actually produce’ an F1 driver

Danica Patrick (Via IMAGO)

Formula 1 started F1 Academy in 2023 to encourage women in the world of motorsports. The sport plans to build a platform that could finally see a female driver making her way to the pinnacle of motorsport. However, former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick believes it is uncertain whether the all-female series could indeed get women to race in F1.

Patrick was asked if F1 Academy would succeed in its aim of producing an F1 driver. The American reckoned that the all-female series would certainly get more women into the sport in the coming years. However, the 41-year-old claimed that it is unclear if the junior series would bring a woman to the F1 grid.

It’ll definitely produce more females involved in Formula One, whether or not it’s going to actually produce a Formula One driver, I don’t know.

Danica Patrick told AwfulAnnouncing.com

The former racing driver pointed out that F1 Academy is not a direct pathway to Formula 1. Instead, drivers in the series would need to make their way up the motorsport ladder before they could get a chance to race at the pinnacle of motorsport. However, Danica Patrick admitted that the all-female series has provided the much-needed opportunity for drivers to be involved in the racing world.

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Part of that is because there’s not a single girl that’s going to go from that to Formula One. They’re not going to go from the Academy to Formula One, they’re going to have to go through so many more steps...

Danica Patrick believes it will take 2 decades for F1 to have a female driver

The American driver reckoned that women would fail to make it into Formula 1 at least in the foreseeable future. However, Patrick left the door open for female drivers in the coming years as more and more women get into motorsport. The 41-year-old claimed that perhaps within 20 years, F1 could finally have a female driver on the grid once again.

The 2023 F1 Academy grid
The 2023 F1 Academy grid

Previously, Danica Patrick had stated that F1 Academy should receive authentic support from F1 drivers. The all-female series shared the stage with F1 at the US GP. However, only Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell decided to interact with the drivers in the junior category. Although, F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff believes that things will change next season with more involvement of the 10 F1 teams.

Certainly, there is a long way to go before a woman can break into the pinnacle of motorsport. However, things are going in the right direction. Formula 1 has invested heavily in F1 Academy as the perfect platform for young female drivers. Although, fans would have to wait for some time before they could see a woman go head-to-head on the F1 grid.

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