Danica Patrick stresses need for women to race against men in motorsports
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 27, 2026, 12:00 PM
Last updated Jul 27, 2026
Danica Patrick discusses the development of female drivers on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, stating that competition against men is essential for their growth. While she acknowledges the opportunities provided by all-female racing series like F1 Academy, she argues that true progress requires racing in mixed-gender environments. Patrick emphasizes that competing against top-tier athletes pushes drivers to elevate their skills. F1 Academy, now in its fourth season, aims to enhance opportunities for women, reporting a rise in female participation in karting from 5% to 30% from 2023 to 2025. The effectiveness of these approaches will be assessed based on the success of current graduates in higher-level competitions.
- •Danica Patrick discusses female drivers' need to race against men.
- •She addresses the potential of all-female series like F1 Academy.
- •Patrick argues that competition against men pushes female drivers to improve.
- •F1 Academy reports significant growth in female karting participation.
- •The impact of these training environments will be analyzed as graduates progress.
- 12:00 PMYahoo Sports — Danica Patrick Says Female Drivers Need to Race Against Men to Truly Develop
"Danica Patrick has never shied away from saying something polarizing, and her take on all-female racing series is a good example. Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast in a debate on the usefulness of the F1 Academy, the racing…
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