After the abrupt ending to W Series 2022 season, before dissolving completely in 2023; many were sceptical when Formula One announced plans to create it's own all-female racing series - F1 Academy. With it's purpose to help young girls get a better footing on the motorsport ladder, questions were indeed asked as to whether F1 Academy could succeed were W Series failed.
Unlike W Series, F1 Academy is run by the same company that oversees other F1 feeder series, such as Formula 2 and Formula 3, which in itself is already an advantage. However, despite this, there was a large proportion of concern before the first event at the Red Bull Ring in April, due to the lack of televised coverage the series would have going forward compared to it's "sister" series of F2 and F3. Instead, fans would have to settle for live timings or highlights streamed at a later date - something that didn't sit right with a large percentage of the motorsport world. Yet, this could still be another advantage that F1 Academy has over the heavily-marketed W Series.
In this day and age, our day to day lives are heavily influenced by social media which, especially in the motorsport community, can become toxic. Keeping the inaugural F1 Academy season a "low-key" event may help Formula One shape it into the series it wants it to be without the hassle and criticism that comes with social media and media, in general. But, despite that, F1 Academy's social media team has been on it; feeding fans with engaging content from race weekends in an attempt to promote the series the best they can, without the help of live coverage. However, there are some who believe this to be detrimental to the image and following that F1 Academy are trying to build. After all, like with many things, publicity is an important tool to success. Is this why there planning on televising the final round of the season? Regardless, the lack of televised races hasn't deterred fans from keeping up to date with the race results but instead proved that there is a need and a want for this series to be made more accessible. And, we may just get that in 2024 when the series travels alongside the Formula One circus.
But what really gives F1 Academy the chance to differentiate itself from W Series is the fact that teams from F2 and F3 are directly involved, with Campos, MP Motorsport, ART Grand Prix, Rodin Carlin and Prema, all fielding cars and drivers meaning that a transition to one of the feeder series may be more likely on the cards in the near future. And, in 2024, it gets better, with the 10 F1 teams representing one driver each in the F1 Academy field. A landmark moment in raising the awareness, of not just the series, but females in motorsport as a whole.
With the series only part way through it's inaugural season, it's too early to declare it a success compared to it's predecessor; W Series. However, everything is pointing in the right direction for it to become "something." With the backing of Formula One, surely we can witness more females moving up the motorsport ladder. Time will tell. Let's just see how the rest of the inaugural season plays out first.
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