Who is LGBTQ in F1?
LGBTQ+ Representation in F1 – Only four drivers in Formula 1 history have publicly come out as LGBTQ+: Ralf Schumacher, Mike Beuttler, Mário de Araújo Cabral, and Lella Lombardi. F1 Academy is an all-female series that was launched in 2023 by Formula 1 to help prepare and develop female drivers to make the step up to higher levels of motorsport, including Formula 3, Formula 2 and Formula 1, providing them with track time as well as technical, physical, and mental support.F1 ACADEMY is a female-only category designed to increase female participation in the sport, both on and off the track!Fact: Formula One is a mixed-gender sport. It also happens to be one of the very few where men and women can compete together on the same grid. So why is there so little female representation, with no woman driver in F1 since the 1970s?Lewis Hamilton has long been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity in sport. He uses his platform not just to talk about racing but also to highlight the importance of equality and respect.What To Know? LGBTQ+ Representation in F1 – Only four drivers in Formula 1 history have publicly come out as LGBTQ+: Ralf Schumacher, Mike Beuttler, Mário de Araújo Cabral, and Lella Lombardi. Their journeys highlight both progress and challenges in motorsport.
Why is number 17 banned in F1?
Why is number 17 banned in F1? As a tribute to Jules Bianchi, who tragically lost his life in a crash in 2014, car number 17 remains retired from Formula 1. Add the 2026 F1 calendar to your agenda with one click! The number 17 was retired from Formula One in his honour by the FIA, who mandated the halo cockpit protection device in all open-wheel championships from 2018 onwards. As of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Bianchi remains the most recent fatality in the Formula One World Championship.Formula 1, a premier motor racing event since 1950, highlights numbers associated with legendary drivers. While numbers like 5 and 14 symbolize the greatness of champions like Vettel and Alonso, the number 17 was retired to honor Jules Bianchi, who tragically passed away after a 2014 accident.Drivers were initially allowed to choose any number from 2 through 99; number 1 is reserved for the World Drivers’ Champion. The number 17 was retired in 2015 as a mark of respect to Jules Bianchi, who died that year from injuries sustained in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix while carrying the number.Yes, 13 is allowed. In fact, Pastor Maldonado used #13 when the permanent number system began in 2014. Though often considered unlucky in some cultures, F1 left the choice to the drivers.F1 drivers are allowed to choose a number between 2 and 99, which remain theirs for the duration of their career in the sport. If they depart the sport for any reason – be it a retirement or anything else – then their numbers would be reserved for two seasons, preventing any newcomers in that period from selecting it.
Can females enter F1?
Since the start of the world championship in 1950, five women have entered an F1 race: Maria Teresa de Filippis, Lella Lombardi, Divina Galica, Desiré Wilson and Giovanna Amati. Only two have qualified and started a grand prix (de Filippis and Lombardi). Maria Grazia Lella Lombardi (26 March 1941 – 3 March 1992) was an Italian racing driver who participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix from 1974 to 1976.