Ferrari F1 boss Mattia Binotto has described their first female appointment to the Ferrari Driver Academy as a “key moment” in their history.
Aged just 16, Maya Weug has been crowned as the first ever winner of the ‘Girls on Track’ initiative, founded by the FIA and Ferrari with the goal of bringing a female into the Ferrari Driver Academy for the first time.
In the final stage of the Girls on Track competition which took place at Ferrari’s Maranello base, Weug outshone France’s Doriane Pin, as well as Brazilian duo Antonella Bassani and Julia Ayoub to earn herself a place in the FDA, and also a chance to compete in one of the F4 Championships Certified by FIA.
Binotto was keen to talk up the magnitude of this moment, saying it was “key” in the illustrious history of Scuderia Ferrari.
“This is a key moment in the history of Scuderia Ferrari and its Academy, the FDA, set up in 2019 to shape the drivers of the future for our Formula 1 team,” he told the Ferrari website.
“Now, thanks to the partnership with the FIA in the “Girls on Track-Rising Stars” programme, for the first time, a female driver will join the Ferrari Driver Academy.
“She is Maya Weug and over the course of this year, she will progress along with us and also take part in one of the F4 Championships Certified by FIA, the category seen as the first step in single-seaters on the road to Formula 1.
“Maya’s arrival is a clear indication of the Scuderia’s commitment to making motorsport increasingly inclusive, in line with the hashtag supported by the entire Formula 1 community, #weraceasone.
“This project is therefore a new element to mark the start of the year for the FDA, which is proving to be a great success: five of its 19 students have made it to Formula 1 and four of them, 20% of the entire grid, will be racing this coming season in the top level of motorsport.”
I still can’t believe it’s true!?
Part of the @insideFDA family ❤️
Huge thanks to @insideFDA @fiawim for this amazing opportunity. And thanks a lot to all the partners for making it possible.
Thanks to everyone for all the kind messages ❤️#FDA #GirlsOnTrack #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/K1uR0lG1QC
— maya_weug (@WeugMaya) January 23, 2021
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Jean Todt, FIA president and former Ferrari boss added: “This is an important moment in Maya Weug’s career, and I extend my warmest congratulations to all four drivers who reached this final selection.
“The FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme is key to our commitment to supporting gender diversity in our sport. I would like to thank Ferrari Driver Academy and all our partners who have joined us in embracing such an innovative and positive initiative.”
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