Jessica Hawkins becomes first woman to test F1 car since 2018 as she completes Aston Martin laps

Jessica Hawkins has become the first woman in almost five years to test a Formula 1 car, completing 26 laps of the Hungaroring in Budapest for Aston Martin last Thursday.

The former W Series racer, 28, alternated in the AMR21 car with test and reserve driver Felipe Drugovich.

Hawkins, a former British Karting Champion, joined the Aston Martin F1 Team in 2021 as Driver Ambassador and her role within the team has since expanded.

Before Hawkins, the most recent woman to test an F1 car was Colombia’s Tatiana Calderon with Sauber - now Alfa Romeo - at the Hermanos Rodriguez track in Mexico City in October 2018.