Formula E is striving for more female inclusivity in motorsport after giving 18 drivers the chance to test modern machinery.
The all-electric series ran an all-female drivers session at the Jarama Circuit in Madrid as the final outing of pre-season testing.
The test gave the women an opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Gen3 Evo car, help the teams gather data and learnings ahead of Season 11 and potentially put themselves in the market for a future seat.
F1 Academy championship leader Abbi Pulling topped the time sheets in the session with Nissan. Jamie Chadwick came in second for Jaguar, while McLaren’s Bianca Bustamante locked out the top three.
Lucas di Grassi says it would be a ‘dream’ for a woman to come to Formula E and beat the current drivers
Only three women have ever competed in Formula E, with Michela Cerruti, Katherine Legge and Simona de Silvestro all making part-time appearances in the inaugural 2014/15 season.
Former IndyCar driver de Silvestro completed a full campaign with Andretti in 2015/15 – the only female driver to do so in the series. The Swiss driver finished ninth at Long Beach and Berlin to score four points.
READ MORE: Axed Formula E driver now set for ‘beautiful’ return to an ‘incredible’ series in 2025
De Silvestro is the last female FE driver, and series is looking to change that in the future. The test at Madrid is a huge step towards that goal as the teams monitor the drivers’ situations from the test for a possible move to the championship in the future.
The aim to get a female driver into FE is also shared by the current crop of talent in the all-electric series. Lola Yamaha ABT’s Lucas di Grassi – who is the oldest driver on the grid at age of 40 – says it would be a ‘dream’ for a woman to be competitive in the sport.
Speaking on the official FE YouTube channel about the test in Madrid, he said: “It would be a dream for the championship for a woman, any woman [to] come here and kick our a–.”
Abbi Pulling is eyeing a Formula E seat for 2026
Several of the drivers impressed the FE teams in Madrid with their first outing in the new Gen3 Evo car, which will be the fastest accelerating car in an FIA-governed championship.
Nissan were seriously impressed by Pulling’s performance as she went fastest in the timings. The Brit has been exceptional in F1 Academy this season and is set to compete in the GB3 Championship in 2025 as a prize for winning the all-female category – which she is almost certain to confirm in Qatar.
Pulling is reportedly eyeing a move to FE in 2026, with Nissan possibly having a seat available come Season 12 as Norman Nato’s return is being viewed as ‘temporary’.
The Japanese outfit do have high aspirations to sign either Antonio Felix da Costa or Mitch Evans for the future, but if Pulling can continue to impress in junior career and get more mileage in FE machinery, she would prove a solid option for them or any other team in the series.