SportsNews brief

Female racers struggle for sponsors and track time after leaving F1's women-only series

A Formula 1 car on a racing circuit
File photograph: A Formula 1 car on a racing circuit. Talon-Kai Honeyman / Unsplash. Illustrative context, not a photograph of this reported event.
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Maya Weug's journey in motorsport highlights the challenges female racers face in securing sponsorships. She was the first female member of Ferrari's driver academy and a standout in Formula 1's F1 Academy. However, her plans for 2026 fell apart, leaving her without a racing seat. Despite her achievements, Weug struggled to find financial backing. She recently returned to racing in Euroformula Open after a 10-month break. F1 Academy supports women drivers but limits them to two seasons.

Weug's story underscores the financial hurdles in motorsport and the importance of staying visible in the industry.

Read the original report at Apnews.

Sources and context

Apnews

Source headline and summary supplied via NewsData.io. First collected by NewsJaws on 2026-09-29. This is an automated news brief, not original NewsJaws reporting. Dates reflect the source publication. Feed delays may apply.