Groundbreaking F1 championship plans revealed

A groundbreaking motorsport initiative has announced a new partnership to further their research into female drivers.

More than Equal aims to find the first female Formula 1 world champion through data-driven research and evidence-based innovation.

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Founded by former Red Bull F1 driver David Coulthard and entrepreneur and philanthropist Karel Komarek, More than Equal uses a science-led framework in order to understand how female-specific factors, such as the menstrual cycle and overall physiology, impact high-level performance in drivers.

In a brand new partnership, the global initiative has linked up with Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport to advance female athlete performance research.

Their goal: "build a comprehensive profile of what it takes to develop world-leading female drivers from karting through to F1."

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What are the aims of More than Equal?

Promising young female drivers with dreams of becoming an F1 champion are being supported by this collaboration which aims to make history by focusing on the unique needs of female drivers from the inception of their career.

This research is being led by Manchester Metropolitan’s Centre for Excellence for Women in Sport and will hone in on key elements of performance such as strength (including neck strength critical for racing), power, cognition, and endurance.

With an elite team supporting these young athletes, they will also receive guidance on nutrition and performance psychology, with the goal of recruiting hundreds of drivers to take part in the research in the coming years.

More than Equal hopes to then use this bank of knowledge to feed into its own driver development programme and offer education throughout motorsport.

Following the partnership announcement, Kirsty Elliott-Sale, Professor of Female Endocrinology and Exercise Physiology at Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, said: “This partnership will not only support More than Equal’s mission to develop the first female F1 world champion, but will progress the knowledge and research in female health and performance for girls and women across all sports. “Through our understanding of female-specific physiology, we can help these talented young drivers navigate the milestones ahead of them while better preparing them for a career at the pinnacle of elite sport.”

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Why is female-focused motorsport research so vital?

The work of the initiative will be supported by two PhD students at the university, whose research aims to focus on an area that is rarely investigated.

The collaboration comes at a vital time in motorsport, with women significantly underrepresented and many misconceptions about the capabilities of female drivers persisting to this day.

Ali Donnelly, CEO at More than Equal, said: “One of the myths we often hear is that women and girls are not physically or psychologically capable of competing at the highest levels of motorsport. We are delighted to partner with an esteemed research university to dispel these myths with scientific evidence. “By understanding and optimising female physiology, we can tailor our development approach to meet the unique needs of our young drivers. This partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University will provide us with the insights and tools necessary to ensure our cohort is fully prepared to compete at the top of the sport.”

In addition to this partnership, More than Equal are also working to develop drivers around the globe, sourcing drivers from: “Austria, Malaysia, Czech Republic, Australia, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom – who were selected to join the inaugural cohort of their new driver development programme. Aged between 13 and 14, these promising athletes receive world-class support.”

These drivers have taken part in physical testing at Manchester Met’s impressive facilities, in what is just the start of the initiatives research.

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