Hawkins, 28, is a former British karting champion and was a stunt driver in James Bond movie No Time To Die. Aston Martin revealed Hawkins had been given the chance to get behind the wheel of their 2021 F1 car at the Hungaroring, the venue of F1’s Hungarian Grand Prix, last Thursday. Hawkins alternated the driving with Felipe Drugovich, the reserve driver of Aston Martin and McLaren and the 2022 F2 champion. On the opportunity, Hawkins said: “I want to say a big thank you to everyone at AMF1 Team for having the trust in me, believing in me, and for giving me this opportunity. Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack was also pleased with how Hawkins had done. However, the last time a female driver started an F1 race was back in 1976, when Italian Lella Lombardi drove for RAM Racing. Before her opportunity in the AMR21, Hawkins had been practising in the simulator at their base in Silverstone.

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