This year’s Miami Grand Prix had the potential to be a landmark event for inclusivity in Formula 1, showcasing the sport’s commitment to fostering diversity. Yet, it ended up highlighting how far we still have to go.
The commentary team, stationed trackside, unfortunately focused more on the appearances and ages of the young women competing in the F1 Academy rather than their athletic prowess, tarnishing what should have been a celebration of their talents.
The F1 Academy, an all-female series, aims to provide a platform for emerging female talent in Motorsport. However, the focus was diverted from their skills to superficial and irrelevant remarks about how they looked and their youth—comments that would seldom, if ever, be made about their male counterparts.
It was not only disheartening but downright infuriating to hear the commentators preface their remarks with “not to be sexist” only to proceed with observations that were explicitly so.
Fans like Alexandra Klasinski, a spectator and Microsoft product manager, voiced their displeasure on social media, bringing much-needed attention to the inappropriate language used by the commentators.
“The most horrifying part of being at the circuit when @f1academy is racing is that it takes more than 1 hand to count how many times the commentators have started a sentence with “not to be sexist but…” whenever they’re on track.
“Same commentators just said “girls put your phones down it’s time to watch”. What the hell.”
Their choice to belittle the competitors by repeatedly referring to them as “girls” and instructing them to “put their phones down and watch the racing,” as if they were children, was demeaning and unprofessional.
Compounding the issue was the timing of a Steve Aoki concert during the F1 Academy sessions, which seemed to trivialise the importance of these races and possibly detract from the athletes’ visibility.
The commentary for the event was provided by Speed City Broadcasting, dubbed America’s radio voice of Formula 1. Given their influential role, their failure to uphold a standard of respect and professionalism raises serious concerns about their suitability for such a position.
Though they are not directly employed by F1 or the Miami Grand Prix, the organisers’ choice to employ them for such an event of big magnitude places a responsibility on them to represent the sport’s evolving ethos.
Sports and F1TV presenter Laura Winter also caught wind of the situation through social media platform X, replying to a fan’s post about the commentary. Winter interacted with the post below and reassured the fan, that she will “escalate” the incident.
South Florida Motorsports, the event organisers, responded to the backlash with a statement condemning the remarks and reaffirming their support for the F1 Academy. This is a positive step, but it is just the beginning. The Motorsport community must see concrete actions that ensure such disrespect does not recur.
“The inappropriate commentary during Saturday’s F1 Academy race was brought to our attention and swiftly addressed. The comments made are unacceptable and not reflective of the Miami Grand Prix or its organisers. We were proud to support F1 Academy this weekend and will continue to do so as they work to increase diversity and representation in Motorsport.”
Despite advancements in various areas of Motorsport, there remains a pervasive sexism that prevents it from being truly inclusive. This incident at the Miami Grand Prix should act as a clarion call. Those given the platform to represent the sport must uplift and celebrate all athletes, contributing positively to Motorsport’s growth and reputation.
Let us also celebrate the achievements of these women outside such negative contexts. Take Abbi Pulling, for example, a 21-year-old F1 Academy racer who won back-to-back in Miami and made history at the weekend by becoming the first woman ever to win a British F4 race at Brands Hatch. Pulling fell victim to the commentators in Miami, who focused more on her appearance, rather than her achievements.
This milestone should be lauded as significant in Motorsport, showcasing the incredible potential and skill of female drivers.
As fans of Motorsport, it is incumbent upon us to maintain vigilant and active in our efforts to challenge and eradicate the outdated attitudes that linger in the sport we cherish. Only then can we genuinely revel in every aspect of Motorsport, free from the shadows of prejudice.
