Thank you, Sophia.
Alpine F1 Academy driver Sophia Floersch becomes first female driver to score points in Formula 3
Formula One. Female drivers.
Yesterday, the gap between these two concepts began to close.
Sophia Flörsch, the only female driver in Formula 3, and in all Formula motorsport categories, made history becoming the first female driver to score points. Having made up 29 places across the weekend in SPA, Sophia once again left her mark.
She had reached this milestone a few weeks earlier, only to see it slip away due to a penalty. This time, however, not only she secured points for the drivers’ championship, herself and her team, but also for all women who aspire to motorsport, whose dreams have been rejected and whose abilities have been questioned.
For all those times when a woman racing in F3 was not even on people’s minds.
As a girl who has always loved sports, I longed for role models I could identify with. My male idols shaped my passion: Nadal, Michael Jordan, Hamilton and Alonso… same my father and male friends followed.
All men. All champions.
But then there was Serena, who broke through with the communication power of Nike and embodied the visibility of a female champion. In her, I found the missing piece — a fierce, passionate and determined spirit that resonated deeply with my own.
Every day, Sophia becomes a role model for young girls who want to be drivers or are just passionate about the sport. Every time a TV commentator mentions her, every time her name appears on the grid, she shows that it is possible to be there. She is there and she is progressing.
A few years ago, our presence was limited to accompanying the driver on the grid and hold an umbrella. Now we are racing with them and beating them. We are part of the race.
It might not be the easiest one, sometimes it seems almost impossible cross the finish line. But we will get there.
We will get to F1.
Thank you, Sophia. Keep pushing.
