Jamie Chadwick completed 32 solid laps in the Williams 2025 Formula 1 car during a testing session that many labelled fairy‑tale.
Williams Welcomes Jamie Chadwick for Maiden F1 Test
The 28‑year‑old Briton became the first woman in more than a decade to sit behind the wheel of a Williams chassis. On a single day at Portimão, Chadwick was tasked with pushing the 2025 challenger through the high‑speed sectors the team will face in the upcoming season.
She described the experience as “very surreal” and said the day passed “far too quickly.” The driver added that the race‑day reality was “what I expected times ten,” a comment that underlined how much the sport has amplified her respect for the discipline.
Fast‑paced 32‑Lap Session at Portimão
Chadwick’s 32 laps were run under Formula 1’s “Testing of Previous Cars” (TPC) regulations, a regime that allows teams to probe older machinery for data. The session took less than a half day but packed a full measure of track work: top‑line speed, braking stability and downforce behaviour – all key variables for Williams as they refine the 2025 package.
“I’m very, very grateful to Williams for the opportunity,” the driver said, highlighting how she feels the car’s performance has “gone through the roof.”
Bridging Generations: Women in Modern F1
Chadwick referenced former Williams ambassador Susie Wolff, who tested a F1 car in the early 2010s, emphasising the historic gap that has now closed. The article also named 2025 F1 Academy champion Dorian Pin, who drove the Mercedes W12 at Silverstone in April 2026, and Aston Martin ambassador Jessica Hawkins, who piloted the 2021 Silverstone car in 2023.
When asked about stepping into the cockpit, Chadwick noted, “It feels quite surreal, 11 years later, to be hopping inside a car like that, and having the privilege to drive it.” The driver’s final thought tied the experience back to a future where more women will see themselves reflected on the grid.
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