Female racer Sophia Florsch has openly criticized Formula 1's all-women support series, labeling it as nothing more than "pinkwashing."
The first F1 Academy champion, Spaniard Marta Garcia, claimed the title in 2023 at age 24 and then moved into the Formula Regional European Championship with backing from F1 Academy, the series' car manufacturer Tatuus, and official F1 tyre supplier Pirelli.
However, Garcia's season took a turn when she left the prominent Prema team in April, joining Mercedes-backed fellow female racer Dorian Pin at the new Iron Dames team.
As the season concluded at Monza last weekend, Garcia found herself without a single point scored.
"I'm a bit emotional," she shared on social media, disclosing that it might have been her "last race in a single seater at least for the near future."
"I'm actually with some tears writing this. My dream was always to get to F1 and this dream will stay forever in me."
German driver Florsch, known for her remarkable recovery after a major crash and spinal injury in Macau F3 in 2018, has long criticized women-only racing initiatives like the former W Series and F1 Academy.
In response to the end of Garcia's open-wheel racing career, 23-year-old Florsch – who continues to race alongside men in FIA Formula 3 – reiterated her stance.
"I'm so sorry for you, Marta," she posted on social media. "It looks like they used you (in) 2023 for short term marketing with female drivers."
"Visibility doesn't help to keep up with the stopwatch. Visibility just helps F1 but not female drivers," added Florsch, who was recently preparing for her first test in Indy NXT, previously known as the Indy Lights series.
"Have you found one sponsor, Marta?" she continued. "They then drive you onto the sideline. Where are all the women's programs that were announced in 2021-2022? It's so sad. Pinkwashing."
According to F1-insider.com, Autosport reportedly also published Florsch's sharp remarks but took the article down after just 30 minutes.
"Behind the scenes, it is said that this happened under pressure from F1 Academy boss Susie Wolff," wrote correspondent Ralf Bach.
