Jessica Hawkins: “On the circuit, everybody else is your enemy”
The Head of F1 Academy means business in the racing world.
Jessica Hawkins, 30, is a total boss in the motorsport world. She’s a British pro racing driver who’s not just hitting the gas in series like the GT World Challenge, but she’s also the Driver Ambassador and Head of F1 Academy for the Aston Martin Formula One Team. She even flexed as a stunt driver for the James Bond film No Time to Die and she’s all about boosting diversity and inspiring more girls to get into racing.
Jessica Hawkins speaking to the audience at a recent Glenfiddich event at The Warehouse Hotel.
In Singapore, she’s linking up with Glenfiddich as part of their partnership with the Aston Martin F1 Team. The vibe is about celebrating their shared commitment to high-level craftsmanship and innovation. It’s also a major moment for her to prove that women belong at the pinnacle of racing.
Jessica Hawkins in a chat with Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich’s Malt Master.
To celebrate its multi-year partnership with the Aston Martin Formula One Team, Glenfiddich unveiled a limited edition Glenfiddich 16-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky on Thursday (2 October). Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich’s Malt Master, commented: “At Glenfiddich, we’re committed to creating exceptional whiskies that honor tradition while embracing innovation. The Glenfiddich 16-Year-Old is a true testament to this philosophy. It combines craftsmanship and precision in a whisky that invites exploration and discovery, much like the journey of our partnership with the Aston Martin Formula One Team. It’s a celebration of blending tradition with the thrill of innovation.”
As the night progressed to whisky tasting over a beautiful course prepared by the chefs over at The Warehouse Hotel, F ZINE got to chat with Hawkins about her involvement in the racing world and her thoughts on new fans who started following the motorsports.
How do you channel your fresh and feminine energy into the race?
Jessica Hawkins: I guess who I am on the circuit is a very different person to who I am off circuit. I’m quite a warm person and easy to get along with. But on the circuit, everybody else is your enemy, and there are no friends in the race. So obviously, there are differences between men and women. That’s no secret. Women have to work harder in some areas, but they’re not quite as hard in other areas. I believe that women can race the pinnacle of sport at the hardest event and excel in those so really, it’s not just about gender. Individually, I have things to work on more than others, like the next person would as well, and that doesn’t necessarily always go hand in hand with gender.
Do you subscribe to a meditation process or ritual?
Meditation, to be honest. I needed some convincing about it at the beginning, but I really think it’s an amazing tool now. I’m still in the process of learning all the different types and styles. But yeah, so far, so good. I’m really enjoying it.
What is the one thing you do that nobody knows about?
Obviously, I love my job, but I’m away a lot. I’m a very homely girl. I love my home comfort. I love cooking. I love making my grass green. I also love keeping plants, but I’m not very good at keeping them alive. But when they are alive, I love how they look. So, yeah, at heart, I’m a homely girl, and I love my own space and the four walls that I’m most familiar with.
What’s your advice to young drivers who look up to you?
Never, ever give up. It’s not a really smooth journey for F1 drivers; you don’t see everything that they’ve overcome or been through to get there. You obviously need a lot of talent, but that doesn’t carry the whole way. You’ll also need luck, and you need things to be on your side. You’ll need to work hard, so really, just never give up. It’s going to be a rollercoaster, and you just have to go with it. Keep pushing and ride the highs and the lows, and eventually, it will come good.
Many viewers who watched the Netflix documentary, Drive To Survive, were converted to fans of the motorsport. Do you think that’s just a trend or will there be a long-term commitment?
I think that you know, being a motorsport fan since I was a very, very young kid, you. Yes, Netflix has been able to show people why I love the sport so much, you know. So of course, it’s a very exciting, high adrenaline sport that the world is falling in love with. And it’s nice to see, you know, I’m able to share my passion with a lot more people now,
Unfortunately, a career as a racing driver in motorsport can be quite limiting and tough to break into, especially compared to roles like being a mechanic or an engineer. But of course, it’s opening people’s eyes to the sport that I love, which I think, is great, and we’re enabling. I guess we’re showcasing the sport. This is a great thing because it will lead to more young drivers and more engineers getting involved in the sport.