How Chadwick’s second W Series title poses more questions than answers

After a COVID-induced year off, W Series was back with a bang in 2021, joining the Formula 1 support package to bring the all-female championship to an even bigger audience. Spearheading that charge was Jamie Chadwick, with one title under her belt and in pursuit of another.

The 23-year-old succeeded in that mission, taking her second consecutive championship with four wins out of a possible eight after a season-long battle with fellow Brit Alice Powell.

Chadwick’s charge to victory got off to a wobbly start, albeit one that was “mainly out of our control”, finishing just sixth in a season opener in Austria dominated by her title rival. But she bounced back in the following race at the Red Bull Ring and finished on the podium in every subsequent weekend.
The Williams F1 development driver was disappointed to miss out on victory at a “special” Silverstone home race, in which Powell snatched the lead from Fabienne Wohlwend with minutes to go, but Chadwick was back in control at the Hungaroring, crossing the line more than 10 seconds clear and leaving the pair on two wins apiece.

The rivals entered the season finale double-header at Austin level on points, but problems for Powell in qualifying handed Chadwick the advantage to finally take the title with both hands. Two wins and a 27-point margin were the results.

“The championship was always the aim and I feel like anything less, especially after the first year, I would have been disappointed with,” says Chadwick. “But at the same time, it didn’t feel like it was by any means handed on a plate, I really had to work for it. I think there’s a mixed emotion of relief, happiness, joy, but also this feeling of what’s next? I’ve ticked that box, now what’s next?

“So yeah, a really good feeling and really happy that we’ve achieved what I set out to achieve. But now, focus on where can we go from here.”

Jamie Chadwick

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

It was admittedly a “harder fought” season for Chadwick, who says she “felt like I was being pushed a lot more” with Powell bringing the fight at every race, trading the top of the standings at every turn as the pair tussled for the title.

“In 2019, I was always ahead in the championship and I was able to kind of manage the gap to behind whereas this year, every week, it was kind of going one way or the other between Alice and me,” Chadwick says. “One weekend, I’d be ahead, the next weekend she would be ahead.

“So going into the last event, first time I’ve ever been equal on points with someone, I felt like I was being pushed a lot more. It was nice having that sense and made me feel like I really had to make sure I was at the top of my game every weekend.

Her 25 FIA superlicence points – 15 of which were gained from her latest title – make her eligible to take part in F1 free practice with Williams, something she hopes could happen next year as discussions continue to create a “more integrated role”

“I felt pressure in every weekend, because there’s only eight rounds. You know that if you make a mistake, or if you have a bad weekend, then it can massively compromise your championship because there are so few. So yeah, I felt the pressure in every weekend. But it definitely came to a head at the last one.”

So what’s the answer to Chadwick’s own question: what’s next? Looking ahead to 2022, Chadwick says she is “unlikely” to return to the W Series and hopes to continue her progress in single-seaters, working out what the best options are. She admits FIA Formula 3 seats “get taken so quickly” and she has missed the post-season tests at Valencia, while the lack of W Series track time would put her on a back foot compared to those graduating from other series.

Jamie Chadwick

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Her 25 FIA superlicence points – 15 of which were gained from her latest title – make her eligible to take part in F1 free practice with Williams, something she hopes could happen next year as discussions continue to create a “more integrated role”.

PLUS: How W Series can confront its biggest enduring issue

The former Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award finalist also recently took part in a World Endurance Championship rookie test with Richard Mille Racing in Bahrain, which she “really enjoyed” and says it’s “something if I can and things allow that I’d love to get involved in at some point in the future”. She was British GT4 champion (with Ross Gunn) back in 2015, and has Aston Martin GT3 experience. Driving in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is also a dream of hers, while competing in Extreme E has given her the rally bug, prompting an interest in the Dakar Rally.

Powell, on the other hand, says her season was “disappointing, in the end”, although she says it was “still a good year”. Having spent a year out of the car, she “didn’t really have high expectations”, but went on to take three wins and two other podium finishes.

“I hadn’t driven a single-seater for a while,” says the 28-year-old. “It was sort of a year out of racing in a single-seater, whereas others had quite a bit of time. Obviously that included Jamie, because she did the year in Formula Regional European in 2020.

“Austria one was a great weekend for me. And then we thought, ‘OK, yeah, maybe we can have a good season.’ Austria two wasn’t fantastic, but then Silverstone and onwards was fairly decent.”

Powell admits that she knew the final weekend of the season would be difficult and that Chadwick would be strong, but says it was “probably the worst weekend of the year. It was really disappointing to not win the championship, but yeah, to be vice-champion – I still don’t like saying it, though ‘vice-champion’ does probably sound a little bit better than saying ‘finishing second’ – it was still a good year.”

Powell also took part in the WEC test, “really enjoying” not only driving an LMP2 machine but also experiencing the Bahrain International Circuit, where she had never driven before. Like Chadwick, she is unsure of her plans for next year, including whether or not she will return to W Series, but says there are “offers potentially on the table”.

#1 Richard Mille Racing Team Oreca 07 - Gibson: Lilou Wadoux, Jamie Chadwick, Alice Powell

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Whatever they do, both drivers owe much of their success to W Series, with Powell especially celebrating the doors it has opened for her, having spent several years away from racing prior to its inaugural campaign in 2019.

As for W Series itself, it enters 2022 bigger than ever. But with the prospect of losing its two biggest names, and with questions concerning upwards progression, where does it go from here?

Autosport's top 5 W Series drivers of 2021

Nerea Marti

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

5. Nerea Marti
On her move up from Spanish F4, this rookie put in a solid set of performances to finish fourth in the standings, with her best finish third at the Hungaroring. She was one of only three drivers – along with Chadwick and Powell – to take points in every race. Expect more from the 19-year-old next year.

4. Emma Kimilainen
After taking fifth in the points in a 2019 campaign derailed by a first-race injury, the Finn was consistently quick this year, finishing outside the top six just once. Her best result was an epic win at a wet Spa, crossing the line over eight seconds clear of second-placed Chadwick.

3. Abbi Pulling
This series reserve took part in just four races but quickly impressed, finishing eighth on her debut at Silverstone. A stunning performance at the Austin double-header finale, where she took pole, led to her first podium and helped guarantee her a spot on next year’s grid. One to watch in 2022.

2. Alice Powell
Came so close to lifting the title, winning three races and taking five podiums in all. Standout moments included a dominant lights-to-flag victory at the Red Bull Ring season opener and a punchy charge from 10th to the podium in the first Circuit of The Americas race.

1. Jamie Chadwick
In a typically fast season, the dominant double champion finished on the podium in all but one race. As well as the points table, she topped most of the major stats: wins (four), poles (four) and laps led.

Jamie Chadwick

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images