F1 teams sent Jamie Chadwick challenge as owner vows 'I'll put her in F2'

06 October 2023 , 05:00

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Jamie Chadwick might get an opportunity in Formula 2 in the future (Image: PA)

David Dicker is ready to put Jamie Chadwick in a Formula 2 car to prove he was not bluffing when he said he has no doubt she could perform in Formula 1.

The Rodin Cars CEO lodged a bid earlier this year with the FIA to be given the chance to form his own F1 team. But his application was one of several turned down by the governing body, with only the submission from Andretti Global given the green light.

Dicker announced the news of his bid's failure himself in a lengthy statement. One of the more eye-catching elements of his bid was a pledge to field a female driver.

Chadwick was the example he gave, as she has previously tested with Rodin Cars. The 25-year-old is a three-time champion in the all-female W Series and is now racing in the US-based Indy NXT series, notably for Andretti, but does not currently hold an F1 superlicence.

Dicker insists his statement that he would have no qualms about putting Chadwick in the car was entirely serious. "There has been a massive amount of talk in the press quite recently about a woman in F1. We were prepared to put one in and I honestly believe that Jamie would be okay in F1. I think she'd do well," he told Mirror Sport.

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"Look, I've supported Liam Lawson for five years – I've put more money into his career than Red Bull has – we tested him here and we tested Jamie in the same cars. Jamie can do the job, so I'd definitely be happy to put her in the car.

"It's not like it was tokenism – I think that, especially in the F1 car where you've got power steering and a few other things, I think she might surprise a few people."

And the Aussie challenged one of the existing F1 teams to stump up the cash to put Chadwick into an F2 seat, which he can provide at his Rodin Carlin team. Dicker said: "One of the F1 teams ought to step up and put Jamie into an F2 car. It's only two million Euros, for god's sake. I'm not joking, I'm serious.

"Andretti would be a perfect candidate given she's driving for him at the moment. If any of these teams, or even Lewis Hamilton, who are all talking about, 'We've got to get women into F1, do this and do that', why don't you step up?

"If someone comes to me, I'll put her into one of my F2 cars the season after next. I'm blocked out for the season coming up, but I'll put her in an F2 car after that, without a doubt, if they want to fund it."

Asked if he thought any teams might take him up on that offer, he added: "No... I might even do it myself and just see how it goes. I still believe she's got a lot of talent and, in the right environment, she could do well. It's not a stunt – I think she's got the ability."

Daniel Moxon