F1 News: Jessica Hawkins Breaks Barriers With Aston Martin - First Woman In 5 Years To Test Formula One Car

Jessica Hawkins made history by becoming the first woman since 2018 to test a Formula 1 car, impressing the Aston Martin team with her performance in Budapest.

In a significant stride for women in motorsports, Jessica Hawkins, Aston Martin's driver ambassador, became the first woman since 2018 to test a Formula 1 car.

Key Takeaways:

• Jessica Hawkins, after joining Aston Martin in 2021, underwent simulator preparations, culminating in her testing the team's 2021 car at the Hungaroring last Thursday.
• Despite challenging weather conditions, Hawkins completed 26 laps.
• Aston Martin officials, including evolution program director Robert Sattler and team principal Mike Krack, lauded Hawkins for her performance, hinting at future opportunities.

Jessica Hawkins' journey with Aston Martin began in 2021. Her dedication and hard work in the simulator soon paved the way for a potential testing opportunity. This dream became a reality at the Hungaroring, where she shared the team's 2021 car with test and reserve driver Felipe Drugovich. Despite interruptions due to heavy rain, Hawkins managed to complete 26 laps.

Expressing her elation in a press release from the team, Hawkins stated: 

"I want to say a big thank you to everyone at AMF1 Team for having the trust in me, believing in me, and for giving me this opportunity.

"It's taken me every bit of blood, sweat and tears to get here. When I first heard it might be a possibility, I could hardly believe it.

"I've had to keep it secret for months now – which was pretty hard! It's been absolutely worth it and it's given me really valuable insight. Nothing will compare to the acceleration and braking of a Formula One car and, having looked at the data, I'm really proud of my performance.

"Getting to drive the AMR21 has been a dream come true for me and one I've been ready to fulfil for a long time. I'll keep pushing for more and, in the process, I want to inspire other women and let them know they should follow their dream no matter what it is."

Aston Martin Press Image

Robert Sattler, Aston Martin’s evolution program director, highlighted the challenging conditions during Hawkins' debut. 

"Jessica excelled in her first F1 test. After the installation lap we had a small delay as the circuit was hit by heavy rain. That resulted in a green track and on her first proper run there were still some damp patches in a few corners.

"Jessica progressively built up speed on a tricky track while managing flawlessly the complexity of the AMR21 car. Her feedback was precise and correlated with our data. After three runs, the track had dried and she was already matching the reference lap speeds.

"Overall, Jessica executed an excellent test programme with a very professional attitude and we hope to see her in the car again soon."

Aston Martin Press Image

Team principal Mike Krack echoed these sentiments, attributing the decision to let Hawkins test the AMR21 to her meticulous preparation and dedication in the simulator. He remarked:

"This is a special moment – for both AMF1 Team and for Jessica, who is an important member of our driver squad.

"We were really impressed by Jessica's preparation for the test – she worked incredibly hard with our simulator team and that made it an easy decision to put her in the AMR21.

"Jessica approached the opportunity with great maturity; she was up to speed quickly and found a nice rhythm.

"This has been a hugely significant moment in Jessica's journey with AMF1 Team and I am pleased we could give her this next step in her development journey by testing a modern Formula One car."

This is a big step forward for women in motorsport and hugely deserved for Hawkins.