F1 Academy aims at breakthrough for female drivers

Despite scandals elsewhere, all-female series brings hope of progress for sport that struggles with inclusivity

- Giles Richards

Despite the furore surrounding the sport, away from centre stage Formula One will continue its efforts toward furthering diversity and inclusivity this weekend as the all-female F1 Academy series takes groundbreaking steps in its second season.

The first race will take place tomorrow, International Women's Day, at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as the series, intended to ultimately assist in returning a woman to competing in F1 for the first time in 40 years, attempts to maintain a positive direction for the sport amid the damaging headlines coming out of the Christian Horner dispute and the recent allegations against the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

However the location of the opening race of a series intended to promote diversity has also not gone unnoticed, with Saudi Arabia repeatedly accused of using F1 and, by association, the Academy of sportswashing.

Human rights groups express grave concerns about women's rights in Saudi Arabia, including highlighting the plight of the Leeds University student Salma al-Shehab, who is currently serving a 27-year jail sentence for tweeting about women's rights.