British racer Chadwick takes wheel of Formula One car for first time

The British racing driver completed her maiden outing in a Formula One car on Wednesday at the Portuguese venue, marking a significant milestone in her motorsport career. Chadwick took control of Williams Racing's previous-season machine as part of the team's testing programme, the outfit confirmed Thursday.

Chadwick, who competes in single-seater racing, has gradually progressed through various motorsport categories. The opportunity to drive an F1 vehicle represents a step forward in her competitive journey and comes as several teams have increased their commitment to developing female talent in recent seasons.

While testing sessions remain distinct from competitive racing, such experiences provide valuable data for drivers transitioning to higher levels of motorsport. The Portimao circuit in southern Portugal is regularly used by teams for such evaluations, offering challenging conditions and a full race track for comprehensive assessments.

Williams Racing has been among the teams actively involved in nurturing emerging drivers through various testing and development programmes. The team has hosted multiple drivers for evaluation sessions as it continues to identify and support talent within the sport.