Formula E: Gen4 removes barrier for female drivers, but FIA licence rules remain an obstacle

Formula E wants to bring more women onto its grid. Jaguar team principal Ian James believes the introduction of power steering in the new Gen4 car has removed a significant technical barrier. However, the FIA's strict licensing system remains an obstacle: Even successful racing drivers from other championships can struggle to meet the requirements for a Formula E race seat.

No woman has competed as a full-time Formula E driver since Simona de Silvestro in Season 2. With dedicated women's tests during pre-season testing in 2024 and 2025, the championship has sought to create more opportunities for female drivers.

Since then, Bianca Bustamante, Sophia Flörsch, Juju Noda and Abbi Pulling have all been involved with Formula E teams in testing, development or junior driver roles. However, none has secured a full-time race seat. Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds announced a significant expansion of the championship's development programme for female drivers in August. According to Dodds, the aim is to have a woman racing full-time in Formula E within two to three years.

The introduction of the new Gen4 car could remove at least one of the difficulties previously faced by female drivers. "We've always said that we need to do something to make sure women have the opportunity to race in Formula E," Jaguar team principal Ian James explained during a media roundtable attended by e-Formula.news. "With Gen4, we now have power steering. With Gen2 and Gen3, we saw that as a barrier, and we've now removed it."

Why even successful racing drivers can struggle to obtain an e-Licence

However, power steering alone will not be enough to open the door to Formula E for new talent. James believes the FIA's licensing system also needs to be addressed. The requirements for obtaining an e-Licence for the first time can prove challenging regardless of gender.

"But we also need to look at the whole points system," James explained. "If someone is a very good driver, for example, but has mainly raced in the WEC, they might not be able to accumulate the necessary points."

To obtain an e-Licence for the first time, drivers generally need to accumulate at least 20 licence points. Alternatively, 15 points may be sufficient under certain conditions, provided the driver has also completed at least 100 kilometres of testing in a current-generation Formula E car. In exceptional cases, the FIA may also grant an exemption if drivers can demonstrate outstanding performances in single-seater categories or certain other championships.

The difficulty for newcomers lies in how the FIA awards different numbers of licence points depending on the championship. As a result, even successful drivers from the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) may struggle to meet the requirements for an e-Licence.

James called for talks with the FIA as early as 2025

The issue is not new. Last year, James told e-Formula.news that he was confident a woman would return to the Formula E grid during the Gen4 era. At the same time, he criticised the difficulties involved in obtaining an e-Licence, citing racing driver Charlie Eastwood as an example.

Despite James explicitly praising Eastwood's talent, the driver lacked the necessary licence points to compete in Formula E. Even then, James stressed that the championship needed to attract new talent regardless of gender and announced further discussions with the FIA about the licensing requirements.

With the Gen4 era beginning in December, the period in which James had predicted a woman could return to the Formula E grid is now approaching. However, most of the full-time seats for Season 13 have already been filled, with no female drivers among those confirmed. A return to the grid at the start of the Gen4 era therefore appears increasingly unlikely. Meanwhile, potential changes to the FIA's e-Licence requirements have yet to materialise.