Discover Your Drive: Young Women Gain Inspiration and Confidence at the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX in Zandvoort

With Discover Your Drive, the promoter of the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort and F1 ACADEMY™ aim not only to highlight career opportunities in motorsport for young women, but also to make them aware of the value they can bring to a male-dominated work environment. This year, about twenty invited female students left Zandvoort feeling deeply inspired by the program. “It opened my eyes to new ways of viewing opportunities for women in the sport.”

More than twenty women aged 18 to 25 were invited to the Dutch Grand Prix for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look inside the F1 ACADEMY paddock and team garages. Students from cities including Amsterdam and Rotterdam, were invited for an introduction with the world of elite motorsport, an industry still largely dominated by men.

Encouraging Participation
The initiative was set up between the Dutch Grand Prix and F1 ACADEMY™, which works globally to inspire girls and young women to explore their future in motorsport, both on and off the track.
Two Dutch F1 ACADEMY drivers, Maya Weug and Esmee Kosterman, were eager to share their experiences with the students and talk about their passion for racing and the challenges that come with it. “Besides my goal of progressing to Formula 1, I also want to inspire and encourage young girls and women to follow their dreams,” said Weug.
The young women thoroughly enjoyed their day at Zandvoort and emphasized how valuable and engaging the experience had been.

Stories That Inspire
“Although I’ve always been interested in motorsport, I had never really thought about career opportunities within F1. But this afternoon in the paddock has inspired me enormously,” said 24-year-old Mia.
Marielle (23) also discovered much she didn’t know. “It was the first time I truly got to dive into it. It’s so special to get this close to the drivers and teams, and especially to hear their stories about how they found their way into this world. I now realize that opportunities in a sport like this really do exist – also for women.”
Roos (22) had been a Formula 1 fan for a long time. “I follow it a lot on social media, where you however mainly see the men. After today, an entirely new world has opened up for me, the world of women in motorsport and what they experience.”

The day ended in the Founders Lounge with an inspiring panel discussion featuring female professionals from the industry, including the Head of Commercial Operations of F1 ACADEMY, the Technology Manager for Motorsports Marketing & Operations at Shell, and the Deputy Race Director of F1 ACADEMY. They explained in detail how women can find their place – and grow – in a male-dominated sector.

Roos said, “That part of the program was incredibly interesting, especially because it focused specifically on the role of women in Formula 1. Many of the topics discussed also apply to daily life. One recurring message was how important it is for women to believe in themselves. That’s something I remind myself of often. I’m very grateful to have had this opportunity.”
Mia also embraced those lessons. “I found the panel discussion fascinating. It was wonderful to hear the stories of women with experience in different disciplines who all contribute to the F1 world. It definitely inspired me to look at the possibilities and opportunities for women in motorsport in a different way.”

According to Emma van der Hooft, F1 ACADEMY Lead at the Dutch Grand Prix, Discover Your Drive is a great contribution to a more inclusive future in motorsport: “It’s important to show girls the opportunities that exist in sectors traditionally dominated by men. More and more women are discovering motorsport, but many aren’t aware of the career paths beyond being a driver or mechanic. By sharing our passion and experience, we hope to inspire them and offer a unique glimpse into a world that is often closed off. I’m proud that we, as the Dutch Grand Prix, can support the F1 ACADEMY’s Discover Your Drive initiative and bring it to life locally.”