International Women’s Day: Lella Lombardi

While a handful of women have attempted to forge a career in top-line racing, only one holds a special place in Formula 1 history. An Italian by the name of Lella Lombardi, the Milan-born driver remains to this date the only female driver to get on the scoreboard in the sport's history.

Lombardi made 12 starts in Formula 1 across 1974, 1975, and 1976, with her name being etched into the history books at the infamous 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, a race that is perhaps remembered for other, more sombre reasons due to the deaths of four spectators following a major crash involving Rolf Stommelen.

A perhaps overshadowed feat due to the other circumstances surrounding that race, but Lombardi's sixth place at the time of the red flag and chequered flag means that she became the first, and so far only, female point scorer to date. The shortened race distance means the Italian scored half a point, but that remains half a point more than any other female driver to participate in the sport.

Will we see another female driver score points in Formula 1 one day? With the talent coming up through the ranks such as Abbi Pulling and Doriane Pin, and should circumstances come together and the stars align, I don't see any reason why not. The major question is who it will be...

📸 Image credit: Formula Motorsport Limited.