Females in Motorsport: Issue One
Your go-to newsletter for updates, results, and stories from the fast-moving world of women in racing.
Welcome to the first edition of the Females in Motorsport newsletter – your new fortnightly pit stop for inspiration, celebration, and stories that fuel change.
Motorsport is a world dedicated to speed, but sometimes, we need to slow down and take stock of the incredible strides women are making in this fast-paced world. The industry is changing. We are entering a new era in motorsports, one where every week we see headlines of women excelling and redefining what’s possible.
That’s where Females in Motorsport comes in.
Each edition will bring you the latest industry news, spotlight impactful content showcasing female achievements, and dive into the stories of women smashing stereotypes across the racing world.
Whether it’s rising stars in the F1 Academy, diving into the world of rally and endurance racing, or the brilliant minds behind the pit wall in engineering and management, don’t worry, we’ve got it all covered.
Since 2018, our community has grown with one message in mind: talent knows no gender. This newsletter marks not just how far we’ve come—but also how far we have to go.
Without further ado, let’s dive into this edition’s top stories!
Headline Rundown
Female Drivers Step Into Formula E Spotlight
Big moves for some of F1 Academy’s brightest talents! Reigning champion Abbi Pulling is taking the next step in her career as Nissan’s Rookie and Simulator Driver, making her on-track debut with the team after topping timesheets at the all-women’s session in Jarama last year.
Meanwhile, Bianca Bustamante continues her climb through the ranks, signing on as Development Driver for CUPRA KIRO and Ella Loyd, who will have a second opportunity to drive the GEN3 Evo machinery at the Berlin E-Prix on July 14, 2025, for NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.
It was also confirmed this week that Jamie Chadwick will return with Jaguar TCS Racing for the rookie test in Berlin. The future of electric racing is looking fast — and female.
Photo Credit: Formula E
Female Fans Left Frustrated by Missed Opportunities in F1®: The Movie
F1®: The Movie might dazzle with its high-speed visuals and Hollywood polish, but it’s a disappointing step backwards for many female fans. While Kerry Condon shines as the first female technical director in F1 history, her character is ultimately sidelined, relying on Brad Pitt’s washed-up racing legend to succeed.
Female roles across the board fall flat: from a pit crew member who doesn’t know tires to a PR officer who seems lost, and a mother reduced to a tired stereotype. The film squanders its chance to reflect the real women shaping motorsport today.
The cut of Simone Ashley’s character and the throwaway jokes about female fans only deepen the sting. Representation matters—and in a sport where women are engineers, stewards, strategists, and rising stars, their portrayal deserves far more than a cliché. Read our full article here!
Photo Credit: Warner Bros
Pulling Pushes Forward with Back-to-Back Top 10s in Hungary
The GB3 Championship returned to the Hungaroring this weekend (5–6 July) for the second time in the series’ history at the iconic Hungarian Grand Prix venue. With tight battles and challenging conditions on track, the fight for points was fierce across the grid.
Abbi Pulling returned to the points, finishing P9 in race 2 and 3. Her consistent performance over the weekend showed her strength in one of Europe’s most competitive single-seater series at a demanding circuit.
Photo Credits: Robin Motorsport
F1 Teams Celebrate International Women in Engineering Day
June 23 marks International Women in Engineering Day, and F1 teams across the paddock took the opportunity to spotlight the female talent driving innovation in motorsport. Alpine F1 held a multi-faceted celebration, including interviews with five female team members at Enstone and a hands-on outreach event for local Year 7 students organised by Alpine’s Women in Motorsport group.
Other teams joined the celebration in creative and impactful ways. Mercedes welcomed Girls on Track UK for a full day of learning at their Brackley HQ, while Aston Martin opened its doors to three young women for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look inside its factory. Red Bull Racing released a special podcast episode focused on women in engineering. McLaren also used this day to spotlight their own team of female engineers and staff across social media.
This year’s theme was “Together We Engineer,” which resonated strongly in the F1 paddock. It showcased just how important collaboration is to building an inclusive motorsport future.
Photo Credit: Alpine F1
Content Catch Up
Our team of volunteers work incredibly hard to bring our following exclusive interviews with women working in the motorsport world and spotlight some truly amazing voices. In case you missed some of our recent work, now is the perfect time to catch up:
Motorsport isn’t just about racing; it presents a wide array of opportunities. In one of our latest features, we showcase three booming female-led businesses. Their stories are inspiring, revealing more of the entrepreneurial side of our industry and how diverse careers in motorsport can be.
Photo Credit: Katie Hornsby
You’ll also meet Aimee Gibbard, a lifelong Oracle Red Bull Racing fan who made her dream into a reality. Now a Design Engineer in the team’s Project Engineering group, Aimee shares how it feels to work in a role she truly loves. “I didn’t think it was possible to love a job this much,” she says — and her passion is infectious.
Finally, we caught up with Paula Pow, a former Red Bull team member and who is now an F1 storyteller carving out her own brand. From paddock life to personal growth, Paula opens up about what it takes to own your voice in a high-speed industry.
Trackside at Silverstone with Aston Martin F1
To wrap up an exciting week, Females in Motorsport had the opportunity to attend The Lawn event at Aston Martin’s AMRTC during Saturday’s qualifying for F1’s British Grand Prix. We were welcomed by the brilliant women behind Aston Martin F1’s Creator Collective, a group changing the game in the F1 content space.
The team offered unparalleled access and gave our team a closer look at how Aston Martin is redefining brand identity on and off the track. It was also a privilege to connect with some of the sport’s most inspiring voices, including the broadcaster Rachel Brookes. Our team described this day as an unforgettable experience so stay tuned for more content on our socials!
Spotlight
Our final section for this edition is going to highlight:
Monisha Kaltenborn – F1’s Trailblazing Team Principal
When discussing women breaking barriers in motorsport leadership, Monisha Kaltenborn is a name that deserves our attention having reached the very pinnacle of F1.
Photo Credit: Sauber F1
In 2012, she made history as Formula 1’s first female Team Principal, taking the helm at Sauber F1 Team—a significant milestone in the sport and one that deserves to be spotlighted.
Follow us on the socials as we continue to highlight the women showing up in Motorsports! You can find us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
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