How Claire Dubbelman became the first woman with an FIA race director superlicence

Claire Dubbelman’s love for motorsport began at an early age, because of her father Huub, who spent virtually 20 years in automotive journalism earlier than working as a PR supervisor for manufacturers, together with Mercedes-Benz Netherlands. Dubbelman was 5 years previous when she started watching Components 1 within the early Nineties. “From the time I used to be little, my father would wake me up – at my very own request, in fact – to observe Components 1. Even for the Australian Grand Prix, which was historically the season opener again then, we might rise up early to observe the race collectively.

“After I was about 9 years previous, I went with my father to Zandvoort for the Masters, which on the time was the occasion you needed to attend. After that, we began going to Zandvoort extra typically, for occasions just like the Easter Races and the Pentecost Races. A day on the observe turned our favorite time out.”

A stable basis

After secondary faculty, Dubbelman pursued a level in worldwide communication, which she accomplished by the age of 21. “After this, I assumed to myself: if I will work till I am 65 – and even 67 it’s within the Netherlands these days – I want to seek out one thing I actually love doing. In any other case, I will not final. That’s how I ended up within the automotive world. I labored for seven months within the advertising and marketing division of Carver, which produces three-wheeled autos. Then a chance got here as much as work in Components Renault. I joined an company that represented Renault Sport within the Northern European championships. That was my begin in motorsport.”

Working in Components Renault gave Dubbelman a stable basis for the remainder of her profession. “One main benefit of the place I began in motorsport was that I needed to do a variety of duties. Again then, we organised your complete Components Renault Northern European Championship with simply three individuals. After I was requested what I did precisely, I used to say: every part that does not contain a screwdriver!”

She dealt with every part from arranging the trophies, writing press releases, compiling the entry lists, sustaining the sporting laws, and reserving accommodations. “I sat subsequent to the race director, as a result of I used to be the one who communicated all the selections to the groups over the radio. That was a part of my function.” That’s how she first got here into contact with race management and sporting laws. “Finally, that is what me most.”

Working for the FIA

Her first work for the FIA was a contract job: in 2012 and 2013, she served because the FIA media delegate for the Components 3 Euro collection, which then transitioned into the FIA Components 3 European championship. Dubbelman: “That is how I received on the radar for a everlasting place.” She secured a full-time function on the FIA in 2017 as championship supervisor, overseeing the junior collection together with Components 2 and Components 3. Within the second half of 2022, she began working as a race management operator in Components 1, making certain the race director’s selections had been executed. She labored a full season in that capability in 2023, earlier than being requested to do the deputy race director function in 2024.

“Meaning I moved one seat to the left,” says Dubbelman about her most up-to-date promotion. “The place I beforehand operated the software program methods, I now have a way more govt function. Primarily, I am the one sending the protection automotive onto the observe and directing the medical companies.” Moreover, Dubbelman is sporting supervisor on the FIA. “As sporting supervisor, I assist the FIA sporting director in coordinating varied issues. For instance, the Tremendous Licence Working Group falls below my duty, and I play a supporting function within the conferences of the Sporting Advisory Committee, which maintains and amends the sporting laws. In brief, it’s about every part wanted on the regulatory facet to maintain the championship operating.”

Away from the observe, she additionally spends loads of time getting ready for grands prix. “There are three of us within the Sporting Division: Tim Malyon (sporting director), Rui Marques (race director), and me because the deputy race director. The three of us are liable for your complete sporting facet of F1, which is sort of intense.”

FIA race director superlicence

As of this 12 months, Dubbelman holds an FIA race director superlicence, which implies she is authorised to tackle the function of race director. Dubbelman: “This 12 months, the FIA determined that anybody who could make selections impacting the race will need to have this licence. So whereas a deputy race director previously didn’t essentially maintain a licence, I obtained one this 12 months. It additionally implies that, ought to something occur to Rui – constructive or unfavorable – I might step in.” The license was granted to her primarily based on her competence. There isn’t any examination for it, Dubbelman explains: “Receiving that doc is extra of a affirmation that I’m certified to carry out the function of deputy race director.”

Dubbelman is the primary Dutch nationwide, the primary lady, and, at 38 years previous, the youngest particular person ever to obtain the FIA race director superlicence. She notably values the second facet. “The truth that so few girls can be found for a place like this reveals how troublesome it’s, how a lot you need to sacrifice, and the way a lot perseverance it takes to get right here. I’m very proud to have achieved this as the primary lady.” She additionally finds it very particular to be the primary Dutch particular person to realize this. “We’re a small nation, however we have now a giant presence in motorsport. So for me to be the primary Dutch particular person to do that, that’s one thing I’m very happy with.”

Extra girls on the desk?

On the finish of 2023, Dubbelman mentioned that she was typically the one lady on the desk, however now the scenario in F1 is enhancing. “However slowly,” she warns. “For example, throughout the drivers’ briefing, the place FIA and FOM representatives, workforce managers, sporting administrators, and the F1 drivers are current, 9 occasions out of 10 I’m nonetheless the one lady within the room. I do not need to say it’s troublesome, however it’s confronting – and typically it hurts a bit of. We have come a good distance in lots of areas of the game, however in the event you’re nonetheless the one lady amongst 50 individuals in a room, it reveals there’s nonetheless a protracted street forward.”

Nonetheless, inside the FIA itself, Dubbelman notices a constructive shift. “Inside our workforce on the FIA, we’re seeing extra girls, and extra girls in essential roles. After I first joined the FIA, there have been loads of girls, however primarily in administrative positions. These roles are essential too – I don’t need to take something away from that – however out within the discipline, girls had been a lot much less seen. Now, in the event you have a look at the FIA, you see a really totally different image. We’ve got girls throughout all departments.

“We’ve got a feminine scrutineer in our technical workforce, our head of operations is a girl, our starter is a girl, and our head of ceremonies is a girl. These are all very seen roles. I’m really fairly proud that the FIA has achieved good feminine illustration throughout so many various areas.”

Additionally in race management, Dubbelman is now not the one lady: “There are 4 roles to be stuffed for every F1 race weekend. We’ve got Tim, Rui, and me. Then there’s the race management operator, the function I beforehand held. There are actually two individuals rotating in that operator function, and considered one of them is a girl.”

FIA F1 Race Management

Photograph by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Photos

May Dubbelman turn out to be the primary feminine F1 race director?

Dubbelman has beforehand acknowledged that she has the ambition to sooner or later turn out to be a race director in F1, however solely below her personal phrases and in a method that feels comfy for her. So is that feeling extra current now than a couple of years in the past? “Sure. We work a lot extra as a workforce now in comparison with the previous. For many years, we had a system the place principally one particular person made all the selections. Underneath Michael Masi and Niels Wittich, it progressively turned extra of a workforce effort. And with Rui’s arrival, we’ve taken one other step ahead.

“I’ve at all times mentioned it needs to be much less about one particular person and extra about teamwork. That may make the function of race director rather more comfy for me, and it might additionally really feel rather more pure to me. In that respect, we’ve now reached a degree the place I’m extra open to the concept of sooner or later changing into race director than I used to be earlier than.

“I nonetheless suppose I’ve loads of rising to do. I would like to have the time to develop earlier than the topic of changing into race director even comes up. After I accepted my present function, I mentioned I wish to have not less than three years to develop correctly and earn the respect of the individuals I work with. In F1 – and that is much less about being a girl and extra about being the precise particular person – you need to show your self. I wish to have the possibility to show myself earlier than anybody considers asking me to step into the primary function.”

Dubbelman emphasises she would fortunately keep within the deputy race director for a few years to return. “However there aren’t any ensures in Components 1, I’m totally conscious of that”, Dubbelman acknowledges, with the chance that she may very well be promoted to the function of race director sooner than she’d desire. “I can say what I would really like, however that doesn’t imply anybody has to hearken to me.”

Nonetheless, Dubbelman is set to keep away from being thrown in on the deep finish. “That’s at all times been my worry,” she admits. “However the best way we work collectively now offers me rather more confidence that, sooner or later, I may very well be prepared. Nonetheless, I really feel there’s one other step I must take earlier than I’m really prepared.”