Leila Lombardi

Maria Grazia “Lella” Lombardi remains the only woman in Formula One history to score a championship point—a distinction earned in 1975 that still stands half a century later.

EARLY YEARS

Born on March 26, 1941, in Frugarolo, a small town in the province of Alessandria, Italy, Maria Grazia Lombardi—known to everyone as Lella—was the youngest of four daughters in a family of modest means. Her father ran a butcher shop, and Lella’s first job was as a delivery driver for the family business, a role that gave her early access to motorized transport in a household that didn’t even own a car. By age 13, she was already driving, displaying an empathy with powered vehicles that went beyond simple utility. She was a natural athlete, excelling at handball—a physically demanding sport that honed the competitiveness and fearlessness that would define her racing career. She loved racing scooters, and by 1959, she’d become known locally for her speed and nerve.

OTHER INTERESTS

Before racing consumed her life, Lombardi was a capable handball player, channeling her athletic energy into a sport that required quick reflexes and physical toughness. The competitive fire she developed on the handball court translated seamlessly to the racetrack, where she approached every challenge with the same determination and grit.

EARLY SUCCESS

Lombardi’s ascent through motorsport was fueled by sheer determination and a willingness to sacrifice comfort for progress. She wasn’t rich, and with no sponsors initially backing her, she slept in her truck to save money—a testament to how badly she wanted this. Her early competition centered around her father’s butcher routes between Frugarolo and the Ligurian Riviera, but she quickly graduated to more serious racing. In the winter leading up to her Formula One debut, she met Italian nobleman Count Vittorio Zanon, whose Lavazza Coffee Company sponsorship opened the door to the highest level of motorsport. Before F1, she competed in Formula 5000, securing sponsorship from Radio Luxembourg and racing a Lola T330 in 1974, where she held her own against rising star James Hunt as teammates on Francisco Mir’s team. That same year, she participated in the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch and the BRDC International Trophy at Silverstone, proving she belonged on international circuits.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1975: Became the first—and still only—woman to score points in a Formula One World Championship race, finishing sixth at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona (awarded half a point due to the race being stopped early after a fatal accident).
• 1974-1976: Competed in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, with 12 race starts.
• 1976: Finished second in her class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• 1979: Won both the 6 Hours of Pergusa and 6 Hours of Vallelunga endurance races, sharing victory at Pergusa with Giorgio Francia in an Osella PA6.
• 1981: Won the 6 Hours of Mugello.
• 1982: Secured a series of class victories in the European Touring Car Championship driving an Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6, helping Alfa Romeo win the manufacturer’s title.
• 1985: Captured the Division 2 European Touring Car Championship crown.

INSPIRATIONS

Lombardi’s philosophy was rooted in the belief that nothing worthwhile comes easy. A phrase she loved to repeat captured her worldview perfectly: “Everything you have must be earned with hard work and sacrifices, because only then will you know how to appreciate every moment.” This work ethic, instilled by her modest upbringing and reinforced by years of fighting for every opportunity in a male-dominated sport, defined how she approached racing and life. She faced her career with quiet determination, never seeking the spotlight but never backing down from a challenge either.

REPUTATION

Lombardi competed with a calm professionalism that earned respect even when the equipment beneath her wasn’t competitive. In Formula One, she was regularly overshadowed by emerging teammate Vittorio Brambilla, never getting within two seconds of him in qualifying, yet she showed up and did the work without complaint. She was known for being tough, reliable, and unshakeable—qualities that served her well in sports car racing, where she racked up impressive endurance wins and helped manufacturers secure championships. Her life partner, Fiorenza, was clearly supportive of her career, though Lombardi kept her personal life private. She is remembered as one of only three openly LGBTQ+ drivers in Formula One history, a trailblazer in more ways than one.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Lombardi retired from competitive racing in 1988 after symptoms of breast cancer, diagnosed in 1985, forced her out of the cockpit. She initially denied the severity of her illness, attributing symptoms to racing-related strain, but eventually had to face reality. In 1989, she founded Lombardi Autosport, staying connected to the sport she loved by running her own racing team. She continued working in motorsport until her death on March 3, 1992, in Milano, Italy—just 23 days before what would have been her 51st birthday.

REFERENCES

Lella Lombardi – Wikipedia
It’s 50 years since Lella Lombardi became F1’s first and only woman to score a point – Motorsport.com
Biography – Lella Lombardi Official Website
Trailblazing racer Lella Lombardi remembered, 30 years on from her death – Formula 1
Lella Lombardi – The Tigress of Turin, Her Authorised Biography – Speed Readers
Lella Lombardi – Motorsport Memorial
Lella Lombardi – Henry Ford Museum
Lella Lombardi – Primotipo
Lella Lombardi Races, Wins and Teams – F1 History
Women in Motorsport: Lella Lombardi – Females in Motorsport
And Your Point Is?: Remembering Lella Lombardi – Herstory Project
Profile – Lella Lombardi – Grand Prix Rejects
Lella Lombardi: She made her point – Motor Sport Magazine
F1’s most successful female racer: Was Lella Lombardi too far ahead of the times? – Motor Sport Magazine