Historical Context & Evolution - Formula 1 has existed for approximately 70 years, undergoing changes in rules and regulations [1] - Only five women have entered a Grand Prix in Formula 1 history, with three qualifying for races [3] - Leela Lombardi is the only woman to have scored points in a Formula 1 race, achieving this in 1975 [3] - Susie Wolf was the first woman in 22 years to drive during an F1 weekend in 2014 and is currently the managing director of F1 Academy [4] F1 Academy & Representation - F1 Academy is an all-female racing league designed to prepare women for elite levels of motorsport [5] - Each F1 team nominates a driver to race in their livery, increasing representation [5] - Jessica Hawkins' successful test drive led to a supporting role in F1 Academy [6] Media Impact & Support - Media coverage significantly impacts participation rates, as seen with a 53% increase in women's football participation after England's 2022 victory, equating to 23 million more women taking up football [8] - Despite initial issues like lack of live broadcasts, F1 Academy has gained support, including from Nika Rossberg [7][9] Key Roles Beyond Drivers - Strategists, like Hannah Schmidz at Red Bull, are crucial, exemplified by her role in Max Verstappen's unexpected win at the 2022 Budapest Grand Prix [10][11] Industry Outlook - While progress has been made in including women, there is still a long way to go to diminish gender discrepancies in Formula 1 [12]