>
EXCLUSIVE: Christian Horner talks about the potential of a female driver coming to the grid… as Red Bull begins a new partnership with Rokt and launches an initiative to improve diversity in F1
Christian Horner has opened up about the possibility of a female driver making it to the Formula One grid, in the week that his Red Bull team signed a new initiative with Rokt to improve diversity in the sport.
There hasn’t been a woman in a Formula One Grand Prix race since Giovanna Amati in 1992, but Red Bull is among the teams now providing the most opportunities in a bid to change that statistic.
This season, W Series will return for yet another year, an all-female driver category will be launched in the form of the F1 Academy, and Jamie Chadwick will continue in his role as development driver for Williams.
While all the moves are positive, it still doesn’t seem like an obvious path to the grid for a female driver, but Horner is confident that opportunities will arise.
Asked if he thinks a woman could win a seat in a race in the next few years, the Red Bull team principal told DailyMail.com: “I don’t see why not.” I think the more girls are interested in Formula One, the larger the pool of young drivers will be joining the sport.
Christian Horner (left) shakes hands with Rokt CEO Bruce Buchanan at its launch in New York
Red Bull and Rokt will try to give more opportunities to women who want to enter F1
‘The biggest percentage of that becomes girls coming onto the base, and then why not? You can never say never. I just think it’s great that there are so many initiatives to involve women in all aspects of the sport, from driving to engineering to operations.
‘It’s great to see that enthusiasm. I think Drive to Survive has brought a whole new demographic to follow Formula One.”
Red Bull’s partnership with Rokt will see the two organizations work together to foster greater diversity in F1 racing, while also launching a search to recruit female athletes to join the Red Bull eSports team.
Rokt CEO Bruce Buchanan also sat down with DailyMail.com in New York this week, and when asked for his answer on whether a woman could rise to the top, he made his feelings clear.
‘100 percent,’ he began. “I think one of the things that’s been interesting on our journey is, wherever you see things that you feel are impossible to beat, how you create role models or things that people can see that will really change their perspective.
“It’s no different in any category… when someone has never done something before, or feels like it’s impossible, and then someone else does it, it’s like, ‘Of course, it was always possible.’
Red Bull launched the RB19 in New York on Friday, its car for the 2023 Formula One season.
Max Verstappen, Sergio Pérez and Horner (left-right) were present in the Big Apple
“I think the same thing will happen with women in F1. I think it will happen, it’s just a matter of how we make it easy for some of the early adopters to come along.
“That’s why I think eSports will be good, we’re also trying to sponsor some female mechanics and see if we can get more talent and diversity. Our business has been very successful leveraging diverse pools of talent.
‘The world is a better place when we allow everyone to thrive and reach their full potential.’
The Rokt logo will be featured prominently on the RB19, which Red Bull launched in New York City on Friday morning.