The final checkered flag of the 2023 Formula 1 season waved, leaving behind the echoes of 22 podium ceremonies. A celebration of speed, skill, and triumph, where drivers and team representatives stand united in acknowledgment of their collective efforts. Yet, a concerning reality emerged as not a single woman stood on any of F1 podiums throughout the entire season. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a stark and alarming absence that demands our attention. In a sport that prides itself on innovation and progress, how did this happen?
Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool
Let’s rewind to 2019, a year where the podium told a different story. Hannah Schmitz, Britta Seeger and Margarita Torres Diez shared the spotlight with triumphant drivers. These were moments that echoed the inclusivity and diversity that the Formula 1 community aspired to embody. Even in the challenging year of 2020, two women, Stephanie Travers and Holly Chapman, found their place beside the champions, a testament to the sport’s commitment to breaking barriers. Joanna Fleet was the last woman who stood on the F1 podium back at the 2022 Spanish GP.
Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool
Fast forward to 2023, and the scenario is dishearteningly different. Despite the efforts of more than 155 women working behind the scenes in the F1 paddock, not one was recognized during the 22 podium ceremonies. Red Bull, with a staggering 21 victories, had many opportunities to acknowledge the efforts of women in the sport and in their team. Unfortunately, these chances slipped away, leaving a void where recognition should have been.
Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool
The disappointment deepens when we take a closer look at the gap between Formula 1’s big commitments to inclusivity and the reality witnessed on the podium during the 2023 season. The series, with initiatives such as the F1 Academy or Dare to be Different, has held the torch for progress and diversity. These initiatives, in theory, signal a commitment to breaking down the traditional barriers that have kept women on the fringes of motorsports.
However, despite the promising steps being taken, the 2023 podiums remained silent on the accomplishments of women in the sport. This unsettling discrepancy is not just about the lack of acknowledgment; it challenges the very essence of the inclusive narrative the sport is striving to construct. It raises the question: How can we talk about fostering a diverse and inclusive environment when the present fails to recognize and celebrate the women who are actively contributing to Formula 1’s success behind the scenes?
Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool
As the engines fall silent, a call for reflection rises. How did we move from the podium’s diversity in 2019 to an absolute void in 2023? What message does this send to the aspiring women in motorsports? What can be done to ensure their contributions are not just acknowledged but celebrated? Where did the roadmap for inclusion take an unexpected turn? All of us must focus on these questions to ensure that the roar of equality can be heard louder than ever in the seasons to come. The podium, a symbol of triumph, must echo the diversity that fuels the heart of Formula 1.
