Jamie Chadwick has become the first British woman since 2023 to drive a Formula 1 car, completing 32 laps of the Portimao circuit in Williams' FW47 on Monday. The Sky Sports F1 analyst and Williams ambassador called it "the best day of my life so far."
Historic test at Portimao
Chadwick, a three-time W Series champion and the first woman in 15 years to win in IndyNXT, drove the car Williams raced in last year's World Championship. The Portimao circuit will host the Portuguese Grand Prix again from next year.
She is the first woman of any nationality to drive a Williams car in more than a decade, since current F1 Academy boss Susie Wolff.
Chadwick's emotional reaction
"It was a phenomenal day and an incredible experience. Few things can prepare you for driving a Formula 1 car at speed around a track like Portimao, but it was everything I imagined and 10 times more. I'm incredibly grateful to Williams for this opportunity," Chadwick said.
"I remember being young and watching Susie Wolff step into a Williams F1 car and how much that inspired my own journey. I'd love to be able to do the same for the next generation, and the experience I gained today will make a real difference both to my own racing and to what I can pass on to the drivers coming through."
Williams team principal's praise
Williams team principal James Vowles said: "Jamie Chadwick is an inspiration for millions of women and girls who has broken records at every level, and she has thoroughly earned this F1 test opportunity with Williams."
"Jamie gathered important data for the team as F1 prepares to return to Portimao next year, and her feedback and performance were impressive as we knew they would be. This clearly shows there is a path for women to compete at the top level, and I look forward to seeing how Jamie uses this experience to advance her own driving and advise our young drivers on what it takes to drive an F1 car."
