“Opening the door and championing diversity by showing to all women worldwide that they can, that this space is also ours, we can compete with men and be on the podium with big names to present the awards, it’s an honour.” – Aseel Al-Hamad

 

 

Aseel Al-Hamad has a longstanding history of promoting diversity and inclusion within the motorsport industry, both globally and in Saudi Arabia. In 2017 she was appointed as the first female board member of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation; she is a member of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and represents Saudi Arabia on the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission. Joined by her photographer Thamer Fuad Ossra, we invited Aseel to show us the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix through her eyes and discuss the importance of motorsport within the country.

 

 

“Motorsport has been one of the largest growing sports in Saudi Arabia. Before, everybody knew soccer and the language was all about it, but many people didn’t know about Formula 1. Now having F1 in the country, having Dakar Rally and Formula E, plus all the local championships, we have educated our society about motorsport,” says Aseel.

 

 

“The youth is now getting inspired. Before, all the young generation wanted to play soccer, now they are considering karting and wanting to become car racers when they grow up.”

 

 

In just five years the presence of motorsport within Saudi Arabia has grown exponentially. The 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix marked the third annual Formula 1 race held in the Kingdom and saw an attendance of 150,000+, with women representing 30% of that number.

 

 

This rise of motorsport in Saudi Arabia has occurred in the five years following the government lifting its ban on women driving and holding licences. In 2018 Aseel celebrated the lifting of the ban by driving the Lotus Renault E20 around Le Castellet ahead of the French Grand Prix. She then drove the car again at last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, alongside Alpine Academy driver Abbi Pulling, together becoming the first women to drive a Formula 1 car in the country.

 


This season Aseel participated in the podium ceremonies for the two FIA Formula 2 races and gave our Alpine Academy and BWT Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver Jack Doohan his second-place trophy for Sunday’s Feature Race.

 

 

“Globally the presence of women in motorsport is quite low. It is an international issue. The percentage of women with a racing licence is only 2.5% around the world,” says Aseel. “When you see a female in the motorsport industry, globally we are all proud to have her there and in Saudi even more so because this is a new language here.

 

 

“Women have only been driving for the past few years and they aren’t familiar with driving. To have someone, who drove a Formula 1 car thanks to Renault and Alpine and who is leading transformational change, be on the podium presenting an award is a big statement.”

 

 

Over the course of the weekend, Aseel also spoke to leading personnel within the Saudi Arabian motorsport industry, many of whom are women. She continues to use her platform and position to speak out for more diversity within motorsport, both globally and within Saudi Arabia.

 

 

“I am sure we can achieve a lot in the coming years,” she says. “This is just the start.”

 

 

Take a look at the gallery below to see the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix through the eyes of Aseel Al-Hamad.