Red Bull's Christian Horner supports Formula 1's progression towards gender neutrality

As Formula 1's popularity continues to soar, teams are expressing interest in joining the grid, and the emergence of the Formula Equal bid has caught the attention of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

Led by Craig Pollock, former founder and CEO of British American Racing, Formula Equal aims to achieve a 50 percent gender split across all roles within the team, from the boardroom to the racetrack.

Horner commends the initiative, stating, "I think it's fantastic to see the amount of girls that are showing interest and females that are showing interest in Formula 1 now and we're seeing it at all levels." With a growing interest in the sport and increased efforts towards diversity and inclusion, more women are being drawn to various roles in Formula 1, including engineering and other aspects of team operations.

Horner believes that this push towards gender neutrality will happen naturally as the sport becomes more accessible. "With the interest growing and with that diversification within the gender following that we now have, it's appealing to more women to get involved in the sport," he said. "We're certainly seeing that just happening naturally as the sport does become more accessible and we are pushing to make it more accessible. So yeah, I think it was something that will naturally happen anyway."

Formula 1 has been actively working towards promoting diversity and inclusion in recent years, inspired by trailblazers like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. The sport has implemented various initiatives to support individuals from minority backgrounds and create pathways for them to participate in Formula 1 in different capacities.

However, the entry of new teams has faced opposition from existing teams due to concerns about franchise value. For instance, Andretti Cadillac Racing's attempt to join Formula 1 has faced obstacles, though the American team remains resilient in its pursuit.

As Formula Equal aims to break new ground with its gender-neutral approach, Horner's positive response reflects a growing acceptance of diversity in Formula 1.

The sport's evolution towards inclusivity is evident, and with the emergence of initiatives like Formula Equal, Formula 1 may take further strides towards a more gender-neutral workforce, embracing talent regardless of gender.