Formula E Wants Women Back On Grid, But Path Still Tough

• Four female drivers took part in Berlin rookie test, led by Abbi Pulling in 17th
• CEO Jeff Dodds says progress is being made and remains hopeful for future inclusion
• Pulling sees Formula E as a “viable career path” but funding remains a challenge

Formula E remains eager to see a woman return to its race-day grid, but results from the latest rookie test in Berlin show the goal may still be some distance away.

Following last weekend’s doubleheader at Tempelhof Airport, the all-electric championship held a rookie test on Monday featuring a mixed field of emerging talent, including four female drivers. Leading the female contingent was 2023 F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling, who set the 17th-fastest time for Nissan. Just behind her was fellow Briton Ella Lloyd in 18th for McLaren, with Jamie Chadwick 19th for Jaguar and Bianca Bustamante rounding out the field in 22nd for Cupra Kiro.

While Pulling’s placing showed potential, the overall classification was tight, as only 1.550 seconds separated the entire grid, which included former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, Arthur Leclerc, and some of Formula 2’s top names.

Speaking to Reuters ahead of the test, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds acknowledged the desire for greater female representation on the grid, pointing to steps already taken.

“We went from no women testing really, to 20 women in the official women’s test last year and off the back of that we’ve actually got four women testing in the actual rookie test now in Berlin,” said Dodds. “So that’s a big jump, we’ve made progress.”

Still, Dodds was realistic about the barriers that remain, acknowledging that driver selection ultimately lies with the teams.

“In the end the teams will make a choice based on what their objectives are in terms of building a fan base, promoting themselves as a team, bringing on sponsors and partners and being as successful as they can be,” he explained. “It may not be next year but I would love over the next couple of years to see women back racing on that grid.”

In its 11 seasons, Formula E has had just three female drivers compete in races. Katherine Legge raced twice in 2014, Simona de Silvestro made 12 starts in 2015 and 2016, and Michela Cerruti entered four races across 2014 and 2015. Of the trio, only de Silvestro managed to score points.

That’s still a stronger recent record than Formula 1, where no woman has started a Grand Prix since Lella Lombardi in 1976.

Pulling, who topped the timesheets in last year’s all-female Berlin test, remains optimistic about where her career could take her, but noted the financial challenges of progressing in motorsport.

“I see Formula E as a really viable career path in the future,” she recently told Reuters. “For now I’m going to keep going up the ladder as far as possible and see where things take me. I don’t have the finances to plan massively in advance so it all depends on how I perform this year.”