Jamie Chadwick creates history with maiden Williams F1 test

Jamie Chadwick has created history by becoming the first woman in more than a decade to test drive a Williams Formula 1 car. The 28-year-old Briton completed a lifelong dream as she got behind the wheel of Williams’ 2025 challenger for 32 laps of the Portimao circuit in a private test run.

Operating under Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) regulations at the Algarve International Circuit, the outing marks the first time a woman has driven a Williams car since Susie Wolff took the wheel for the team over a decade ago. Chadwick built her career in single-seaters, including a spell in Indy NXT and winning three W Series titles, and the Portimao run gave her a rare taste of current F1 machinery.

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Reflecting on the experience to Sky Sports F1, Chadwick described the day as passing by in an instant.

"Very surreal. It all went far too quick, honestly. It was a day or half a day that just went by so fast, but I'm so glad, because you dream of things like this, and you dream of days like this. Often with things like that, you never know how you're going to feel on the day, or how it's actually going to be, and the reality of it was what I expected times ten."

Jamie Chadwick, driver, via Motorsport.com

"It was a phenomenal day and an incredible experience. Few things can prepare you for driving a Formula 1 car at speed around a track like Portimão, but it was everything I imagined and 10 times more."

Jamie Chadwick, driver, via Crash.net

Chadwick added that her appreciation for the championship had grown significantly following the session.

"Now my appreciation for this sport, and for Formula 1 in particular, has gone through the roof. The car is phenomenal. The circuit was also phenomenal. I'm very, very grateful to Williams for the opportunity."

Jamie Chadwick, driver, via Motorsport.com

The milestone connects Chadwick to Susie Wolff, who famously made history by becoming the first female driver to take part in an F1 race weekend in 22 years when she drove in first practice at the 2014 British Grand Prix. Wolff's run at Silverstone was shortened after her Williams managed only a total of four laps before a technical issue struck. Wolff also took part in the opening day of running at a pre-season test in Barcelona in 2015, which ended with a high-speed Crash following a collision with Felipe Nasr's Sauber.

Chadwick noted the historical resonance of following in those footsteps.

"I mention it in the feature, but I really clearly remember the day Susie did her day. It feels quite surreal, 11 years later, to be hopping inside a car like that, and having the privilege to drive it. So, very grateful to everyone that's part of it."

Jamie Chadwick, driver, via Motorsport.com

The Portimao test also sits within a broader pattern of TPC outings for female drivers across the grid. Other women to have tested modern F1 machinery include Doriane Pin, who tested the Mercedes W12 at Silverstone in April 2026, and Jessica Hawkins, who drove Aston Martin's 2021 car in 2023. Tatiana Calderon is another woman to be handed F1 tests in the past decade.

Williams team principal James Vowles praised the ambassador's contribution to the squad's preparations.

"Jamie is an inspiration for millions of women and girls who has broken records at every level, and she has thoroughly earned this F1 test opportunity with Atlassian Williams F1 Team. Jamie gathered important data for the team as F1 prepares to return to Portimão next year, and her feedback and performance were impressive as we knew they would be. This clearly shows there is a path for women to compete at the top level, and I look forward to seeing how Jamie uses this experience to advance her own driving and advise our young drivers on what it takes to drive an F1 car."

James Vowles, Team Principal, via Crash.net

Williams have not announced any further test dates for Chadwick beyond the Portimao outing. Her history-making experience will be broadcast by Sky Sports F1 over the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.