W Series joins F1 support bill for US and Mexico City Grands Prix

There’ll be a new racing series on the support bill at the United States and Mexico City Grands Prix after F1 confirmed W Series, the single-seater championship for female drivers, will be part of the schedule.

The races will represent the final two rounds of the eight-round series, which had its inaugural season in 2019, with Williams development driver Jamie Chadwick taking the spoils.

The US race takes place on October 24 - the Saturday of the F1 meeting - at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas, and the Mexico round a week later at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

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“We are delighted to welcome W Series to two such spectacular events of the 2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, such as those in Austin and Mexico City,” said Ross Brawn, Managing Director, Motorsport at Formula 1.

“In just one year, W Series has contributed significantly to increasing interest in the topic of diversity and inclusion in motorsport.

“We are convinced that our sport must offer equal opportunities for men and women to compete together - it is no coincidence that improving the diversity of the F1 grid by supporting and promoting driver talent from underrepresented backgrounds is one of our strategic objectives.

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“The ability for the great crowds who traditionally attend the Austin and Mexico City Grands Prix to see these talented female drivers up close will definitely further raise the awareness of the importance of inclusion and diversity in motorsport."

Catherine Bond Muir, W Series' Chief Executive Officer, added: "We at W Series are absolutely delighted that, in only our second season, our championship has been welcomed by Formula 1, and we're utterly thrilled that the final two races of the 2020 W Series season will therefore take place as part of the Formula 1 platform.

“Our two all-new races will follow six races on the DTM platform, making a very varied, extremely exciting and truly international eight-race championship, in eight countries across the globe. I'm particularly pleased that W Series will now stage races outside Europe, and the USA and Mexico are of course both very important new territories for us.

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“Interest in and enthusiasm for W Series was enormous in our first season, 2019, among media and fans alike, and the addition of two all-new W Series races on the Formula 1 platform will inevitably increase that enthusiasm and interest.

“A lot of work has gone into stitching the W Series / Formula 1 deal together, but above all I want to thank W Series' drivers, the brave and talented young women who captured the imagination of the sporting world last summer. Mark my words: they'll do so again this year, from May to October, all over the world.”