Danica Patrick stresses need for women to race against men in motorsports

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.

• 12:00 PMYahoo Sports — Danica Patrick Says Female Drivers Need to Race Against Men to Truly Develop