In 2010, not long out of primary school, Jamie Chadwick discovered karting after tagging along to a trial day with her older brother, Ollie. Three years later, aged 15, she was collecting podiums in the Ginetta Junior Championship.
Unlike many who share a similar motorsport origin story – usually starting much earlier – Chadwick didn’t grow up in a racing family. By 2015, things were shifting up a gear. She entered the British GT Championships, winning the Silverstone 24 Hours and taking the title from behind the wheel of a GT4 Aston Martin V8 Vantage – all while studying for her A-Levels and still too young to hold a driving licence.
Overnight, she became the “youngest champion ever”, the “first female champion”, and, simply, “the first female” to even compete in that category.
Now 27, Chadwick stands as the most decorated female racing driver of all time. She’s sampled an entire buffet of disciplines – GT, Indy, Formula 3, off-road through Extreme E, and even Formula E as a test driver for Jaguar – each adding another layer to an already remarkable CV.
Few drivers, of any gender or generation, can claim such breadth of experience. These days, she’s turned her focus (and her wheel) to endurance racing, competing in the European Le Mans Championship with Genesis Magma.
When we speak, she’s testing at Magny-Cours, France, two weeks after this shoot. Chadwick’s professionalism and composure is obvious, but I still ask what keeps her grounded. Her answer catches me off guard. “I know people say the opposite, that social media can warp your sense of perspective – but actually, it keeps me grounded. There’s always someone ready to critique you and remind you where you really are. That, and of course my friends and family.”
And the difference between Jamie on track and Jamie at home? “Everyone has their alter ego. I’m pretty laid back off track, but when I’m in the car, I like things a certain way. I’m a bit of a hard taskmaster – and a lot more emotional.”
Life as a racing driver, she admits, can be a double-edged sword. Travel is a privilege, but it can also be isolating. “I always make sure I have someone with me,” she says, “but constantly crossing time zones takes its toll, especially when you’re expected to perform every weekend. Creating the right environment around you is key – your team, the people closest to you.”
Learning to live with loneliness, she adds, “is part of the job.” If she could offer her younger self one piece of advice, it would be to believe in herself more. In fact, younger Jamie never thought she’d get to this point – not even halfway here. Confidence would’ve helped a lot, especially in the early days. And I’d tell myself to be more me, instead of trying to fit in and be one of the boys.”
That phrase — “one of the boys” — crops up again. She laughs when I mention it. “I was a total tomboy. There were only four girls in my class, so we did everything with the boys – sport included.”
It was an early education in navigating male-dominated spaces, one that set her up for life in motorsport. On the responsibility that comes with being a role model for women and girls, Chadwick is measured but firm.
“You definitely feel more eyes on you when you’re one of few. But my focus has always been simple: if I do my job to the absolute best of my ability, then it doesn’t matter either way. If you give people a reason to question you because you’re not performing, that’s when the pressure comes. “I just focus on doing my job as a driver, an advisor, an ambassador.”
This attitude extends beyond the track. Alongside running her own karting series with Daytona – which gives young women access to mentoring and hands-on experience – she’s an active advocate for women and girls in STEM.
She maintains her long-standing relationship with Williams, serving as both racing ambassador and advisor to their F1 Academy team. But she’s keen to stress that racing isn’t just about the driver
“You could be an engineer, a mechanic, work in commercial or media, everyone’s part of winning when the result comes,” she says. “If your whole team’s made up of people with the same background and perspective, you’ll get the same outcomes. “Diversity brings new ideas, new energy – and that’s what drives performance.”
This sentiment resonates strongly with my own work on inclusion in the fashion space and creative – it is important to remember that when you are a “first” and all that comes with it, ultimately, you are one person with a role to play – a job to do.
A week before we speak, she’s in Mexico, joining Sky Sports F1’s pundit team, something entirely new to her. “What broadcasters do to bring live sport to the screen is incredible,” she says. “It’s an art in itself. I’ve loved seeing it up close, especially working alongside world champions who’ve been part of that world for so long.”
I ask if that experience might influence her next race. She gives me a knowing smirk – the kind that suggests, probably, yes. Finally, I ask how she wants to be remembered: as a driver who happens to be female, or through a female-first lens? She pauses. “There are two sides to it. As a driver, I care about the performance, the result – not what I am. But as a person, I do think visibility matters. Women in sport, and particularly in motorsport, are progressing.
“I want to see that next generation have more opportunities,” she continues. “The professional and personal go hand in hand.” And what’s next? Hard to say. There aren’t many kinds of car left for Jamie Chadwick to conquer. But women in F1 seats on race day? More women on the pit wall and the payroll? Let’s get it, baby!
