Who was the first woman to start a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix?
Answer
Maria Teresa de Filippis
Maria Teresa de Filippis was the first woman to start a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix.
The Italian driver made history at the 1958 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Driving a Maserati 250F, she qualified 19th and finished 10th, two laps behind winner Tony Brooks. That was her first start in a World Championship race.
De Filippis had entered the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix earlier, but she failed to qualify, so that attempt did not count as a start. She later started two more World Championship races in 1958 and made another qualifying attempt in 1959.
A common mix-up involves Lella Lombardi, who became the first woman to score World Championship points, earning half a point at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. Desire Wilson, Divina Galica and Giovanna Amati also pursued Formula One opportunities, but none preceded de Filippis as a race starter.