Craig Pollock, the former motorsport executive and team principal of the BAR Formula One team, has submitted an expression of interest to Formula One about putting together a new team that is 50 percent male and 50 percent female, called Formula Equal. The proposed team’s purpose is to promote gender equality in the motorsports industry and provide more opportunities for women to reach the top levels of racing.
Efforts made towards promoting gender equality in motorsports
For over 40 years, there hasn’t been a woman driver in a Formula One race. Estimates suggest that 40% of current Formula One fans are female, yet there are few female drivers at any level in motorsports. To address this lack of representation, the motorsports industry is increasingly making concerted efforts to promote gender equality.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes that gender equality in motorsports is inevitable, and interest from women in the sport is growing. Reports suggest that a team that is evenly divided between men and women may enter Formula One within the next two to three years. The FIA chief executive Mohammed ben Sulayem has instructed his staff to consider launching an “expressions of interest” process for prospective teams.
Craig Pollock’s vision for Formula Equal
Craig Pollock’s vision for Formula Equal involves building opportunities and pathways for women to get to the top level inside motorsports. Although his BAR team raced in F1 between 1999 and 2005 before being purchased by Honda, then Brawn GP, and later Mercedes, Pollock still recognizes the need for greater diversity within the sport.
Formula Equal aims to be the first truly non-European team in Formula One. According to Pollock, creating a team that is 50 percent male and 50 percent female will not be easy but it is necessary. The team will have to go through its academy systems to build up and train enough women to Formula One level.
The team’s concept is extremely hard to achieve with an existing Formula One team. Pollock also hopes to include a female driver in the lineup, but admits there are issues with doing so in the near future. However, Formula One will be launching its F1 Academy championship series primarily for teenage girls to provide a clearer pathway to the top.
Support for gender diversity
Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer supports increasing diversity in Formula One, stating that it would bring fresh perspectives and talent into the sport. In addition to being beneficial for female drivers, Szafnauer believes it would also benefit racing teams as a whole.
The introduction of the W Series in 2019 was a step in the right direction, but it was criticized for not including any female drivers from the W series. Fans attending the Australian Grand Prix believe that it is good that there are more opportunities for women, but hope that gender equality in the sport continues to improve.
Conclusion
Craig Pollock’s proposed Formula Equal team represents an exciting opportunity and a step towards greater gender equality within motorsports. If successful, it could bring about meaningful change for female drivers and help create a more diverse and inclusive environment within Formula One racing.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
