The first woman to finish in points during a Formula 1 race. [Credits: X/ Formula 1]

Lella Lombardi, the Pioneer of Women in Formula 1!

Read ahead to know the story of one of the most inspiring women in motorsports.

The first woman to finish in points during a Formula 1 race. [Credits: X/ Formula 1]

Formula 1 has progressed by leaps and bounds when it comes to involvement of women. Sure, there may not be a woman on grid who is a full-time driver. But the sport has been steadily changing the outlook that people hold towards women in motorsports. Lella Lombardi is the among the few women who managed to start a chain reaction in F1. She was the first of many to come.

They came to race. They stayed to inspire. 💪

Our drivers headed to The Track in Jeddah to support 20 fearless women taking on Sebastian Vettel in his very own #Race4Women initiative.

Launched by Seb in 2021, this powerful campaign is giving women a platform to race, grow and… pic.twitter.com/8JskZrvOwi
— F1 Academy (@f1academy) April 17, 2025

The FIA F1 Driver Academy is a budding example of Formula 1’s new approach towards women and motorsports. Sebastian Vettel is also a shining figure in the community who has been working towards involvement of women in racing. He was seen in Jeddah last weekend to commemorate Saudi Arabia’s women racers.

Lella Lombardi’s career is a prime example of how women have fought forward to make way into motorsports. She is more than just a former racing driver. Her death in 1992 could not take away the influence and inspiration she brought on for women in Formula 1 and motorsports in general.

Lella Lombardi- the First and Only Woman to Score Points in a Formula 1 Race

50 years ago on April 27, 1975 Lella Lombardi went on to score points in the Spanish Grand Prix. She finished sixth in the shortened race to score 0.5 points. Lombardi could not repeat her feat once again in her career but she went down in history for this achievement. Lella Lombardi competed in Formula 1 from 1974 to 1976. She raced for Williams and March in her career. In 1974, she was able to finish fifth in the European F5000 Championship socring 88 points throughout the season.

50 years ago, Lella Lombardi made history.

The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix ended prematurely after a tragic accident where four spectators lost their life. Lombardi was running in sixth, and awarded half a point — the first time half points were used in #F1.… pic.twitter.com/5Vqf79dGyC
— Motor Sport magazine (@Motor_Sport) April 27, 2025

Lombardi did not stop at Formula 1. She went on to race in 24 Hours of Le Mans, NASCAR, DTM and Shellsport International Series. Lombardi was the runner up in the 1976 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTP racing for Lancia Stratos-Ferrari. She could not produce any similar or miraculous results in other racing series.

She is a winner in the 6 Hours of Pergusa and the 6 Hours of Vallelunga races. Lombardi succumbed to breast cancer on 3 March 1992. She has a sculpture erected in her hometown, Frugarolo.

Lella Lombardi’s racing career and achievements have defined Formula 1 for many women and generations to come. In many ways, she is one of the best women to grace the world of open-wheel racing and motorsports.

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I work as a Writer at The Playoffs specialising in NHL, Formula 1 and Motorsports. I got into online journalism a couple of years ago. I used to be an intern for a website managing their Formula 1 content and then I served an entire year as a contractual writer.