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LOMBARDI, DE SILVESTRO, PULLING Lead Formula E’s Push for Women Racers

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August 17, 2026

GRRL! SUMMARY:

  • MARIA GRAZIA LELLA LOMBARDI remains F1’s last female starter from 1976, while Formula E has featured three women including SIMONA DE SILVESTRO in 2016, outpacing F1’s 76-year total already.
  • ABBI PULLING, 2024 F1 Academy champion and Nissan simulator driver, tested Formula E’s actual championship car at Valencia alongside 13 other women, gaining crucial Gen3 experience unavailable in junior series.
  • JUJU NODA at Jaguar, SOPHIA FLORSCH at Opel, and BIANCA BUSTAMANTE at Cupra Kiro now hold dedicated team positions, positioning them closer to race seats than F1 Academy graduates facing massive developmental gaps.
  • Gen4’s power steering eliminates physical disadvantages that plague F2 and F3 competition, where 16-year-old girls face stronger male competitors without the steering assistance available in actual F1 cars.

UPCOMING:

  • Formula E Season 11 debut with new Gen4 cars featuring power steering
  • Expanded women’s testing program announcements for next season

LINKS TO RACER'S PROFILE PAGES:

SIMONA DE SILVESTRO ABBI PULLING JUJU NODA BIANCA BUSTAMANTE

ABB FIA Formula E, all-female f1 academy, nissan

GRRL! summary based upon reporting originally appearing on www.pressreader.com