How W Series can confront its biggest enduring issue

Two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick finds herself in a predicament. The Williams F1 development driver has more than proven herself in the all-female series and has little to gain from returning. But where should she go next? And how will the series move forwards if she elects to take up her reserved slot on next year's grid? Whatever she decides, it poses important questions for the series' future

Updated Nov 5, 2021, 7:21 PM

Having won both of W Series’ two championships so far, Jamie Chadwick is the arguably the best-known woman currently racing. Winning four races in 2021 and two out of the six which took place in 2019, Chadwick is well-proven and has a broad resume outside single-seaters too - having won the British GT4 title back in 2016, and branched out this year into the Extreme E off-road series with Veloce - taking second in the Ocean X-Prix in Senegal.

But a question mark hangs over her future. Asked after securing the title in Austin what her plans were for next year, Chadwick was non-committal.

comments

Author Megan White

Megan White is Autosport’s News Editor and Formula 2 and 3 reporter.

She began her career in national news after graduating from Kingston University, working at SWNS and the Evening Standard, with a stint working in communications in the music industry.

Megan made the switch to motorsport in 2021, swapping covering COVID and Brexit as a Digital News Editor at LBC for F2, F3 and W Series. Her love of cars began as a child, but her passion for motorsport was ignited after watching the Senna documentary. She has since also developed a fondness for MotoGP.

Away from motorsport, Megan enjoys collecting records, seeing live music and ice hockey.