Jamie Chadwick admits F1 is no longer ‘realistic’ for her – but 2025 IndyCar seat sure is

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Unique: Chatting with Mirror Sport after testing IndyCar equipment for the primary time, British racer Jamie Chadwick is sincere about her Method 1 dream as she chases one other ambition throughout the Atlantic

Jamie Chadwick nonetheless goals of being the primary girl in virtually half-a-century to begin a Method 1 race.

However, aged 26, she concedes it’s “sadly not practical” to suppose she is going to ever get an opportunity within the sport. As an alternative, the Brit has headed Stateside and, in June, turned the primary girl to win an IndyNXT race for 14 years, and solely the third ever.

It’s the feeder collection to IndyCar and Chadwick is concentrating on a spot on the grid within the senior class for 2025. She examined an IndyCar final week and earned effusive reward from Andretti chief engineer Craig Hampson, who beamed: “She’s manner forward of the automobile.”

Amid the demand for seats within the American collection, although, she is “hopeful however not sure” whether or not she will land a full-time drive. She stated: “It is one thing I am taking pictures for. “With the precise preparation and setting, I believe I can have success in IndyCar and that is obtained to be what I am aiming for.

“However, on the similar time, there’s a number of competitors for only a few seats and I believe there’s fairly a couple of different elements that may decide whether or not I find yourself on the IndyCar grid or not.”

There are many gifted drivers who’ve missed out on one of many 20 obtainable seats in F1 for subsequent 12 months. And lots of of them wish to IndyCar, the place there’s already a plethora of expertise, making it tougher for these within the US feeder collection to progress.

Chadwick’s Andretti team-mate Louis Foster, additionally British, dominated the IndyNXT championship and received eight of the 14 races held. However he would not but have a spot on the 2025 IndyCar grid. Chadwick completed seventh within the standings however a mere 22 factors away from fourth, and was one among solely 5 drivers who received a race all 12 months.

The triple W Collection champion stated she would not have a backup plan for subsequent 12 months if her IndyCar likelihood would not come alongside, however would nonetheless love a shot on the collection’ most well-known race. She stated: “The Indy 500, I all the time say it is my favorite race by far, even simply as a spectator. It is simply an unbelievable spectacle and occasion to look at. If I can get within the window or get a possibility to have an excellent shot at it, that might be superior.”

She stays in contact with the F1 paddock by her relationship with Williams, and alongside her racing acts as a mentor for his or her F1 Academy entrant Lia Block. And if an opportunity to race an F1 automobile would not come alongside, she’s nonetheless nagging workforce boss James Vowles about getting the prospect to drive one.

She stated: “If I take a look at the extent of Method 1 now, the place my age is and my expertise, it actually would not seem like I am on that trajectory for the time being. However by no means say by no means. The main focus is on the IndyCar, but when there’s a possibility to get in an F1 automobile, in fact it is one thing I might like to do.”

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