Jessica Hawkins reflects on what it takes to reach Formula One, why raw talent alone is never enough, and her ambitions to fight at the front in British GT. She also makes a case for a more open sport – one where no driver, team member or fan feels they have to prove they belong.
"Really sorry! Mind if we do this while I'm driving? I need to take my cat to the vet."
As far as the start to an interview goes, this is not the most conventional. In fact, it's pretty far from it. Jessica Hawkins bouncing around the Buckinghamshire countryside in an Aston Martin DBX, with Wilbur the cat on the back seat looking a little worse for wear... or just decidedly unimpressed with admin's line of questioning.
Yet it all feels entirely apt for an interview designed to unpack the thoughts of a racer whose career path has been far from conventional, on the eve of a Grand Prix in a city that eschews the norm: Miami.
It's fitting, then, that when Jessica arrives in the 305 next week, she does so with a career defined not by the traditional racing ladder, but by her willingness to step off it.
Jessica's motorsport journey hasn't followed the well-worn sequence of karting to single-seaters. That route still exists, but her story lives in the margins of that map – in the detours, the risks, and the moments where saying 'yes' mattered more than sticking to a plan.
It is a story of taking opportunity, of forging her own path, and of paving the way for others to follow...
"There's quite a conventional route in motorsport everyone tries to follow," says Jessica. "You start in karting and go through F4, F3, F2, and then a few get to F1.
"But I've never believed there's only one way into Formula One. There is no single path – only the one you take.
"Of course, I've always had a plan throughout my career and things that I want to achieve, but I've also learned it's OK to veer off and take a different route.
"I got into stunt driving – that was never in my plan – but it was an opportunity that arose, and I decided it was the right thing for me to do. It was unnerving to take that leap, but it turned out to be one of the best things I've ever done.
"I've had to take opportunities when they presented themselves, and I've had to adapt. It's served me well, and it shows what can be achieved when the opportunity is given."
Bringing down barriers
Adaptability is essential in a sport where opportunity isn't always distributed evenly. Progress on that front has been made, but there's still work to do. Talent alone is not always enough, and Jessica is clear about one of the biggest challenges facing the next generation of racers.
"It would be nice to see the financial aspect not being such a barrier for young talent.
"Of course, there are more programmes helping get kids into motorsport now, and they are helping bring down that barrier, but the stark reality is that the further young drivers progress, the greater the need for financial backing. I think there's been good progress made, particularly at entry level, but higher than that, there are still challenges.
"Getting kids through the door is a good start, though. It might help them get into engineering or being a mechanic if they can't go further in racing. When I stopped karting, I was a mechanic for a bit and I loved it. I would probably still be doing that now, if it wasn't for the stunt driving and my time in W Series."
The stark reality is that the further young drivers progress, the greater the need for financial backing.
Starting early
Encouraging those opportunities, particularly for young girls entering the sport, remains a key focus. Progress is visible, but Jessica is careful not to overstate it, and the emphasis is on getting them in the pipeline from an early age.
"We see more women involved in motorsport now, but is that because they're just being shown on the track more?
“I'd argue more women are competing than there once were, but we need to keep pushing to increase female representation further.
"One of the ways we can keep doing that is by providing those opportunities to young girls right at the start of their careers.
"At Aston Martin Aramco, that push is taking shape through, among several other programmes, our driver development efforts. Young talents like Ava Lawrence are continuing their journeys in karting with the support of our Driver Academy.
"The programme is well structured and very comprehensive, and Ava has got lots of good people around her. It's a great place for her to learn early on what she needs to do to keep developing and progressing.
"Getting women into the highest categories in motorsport starts with them getting a chance at the beginning of their career. Ava has that opportunity, and she now has the support of the team, which is really exciting."
Further along that pipeline, that same mentorship extends to Mathilda Paatz in F1 ACADEMY. With Jessica in a position to directly influence the next generation as the team’s Head of F1 ACADEMY.
"Mathilda has been great so far. She's got a lot of seat time under her belt already this season. She's very open to listening to the advice of everybody around her. There are still things that we're working on, but she started with a very good baseline.
"Mathilda was unlucky in China, having gearbox issues in Qualifying, which was always going to make the rest of the weekend tough because it set her towards the back of the grid and the field looks close this year.
"But these things happen in racing, and she showed strong pace in the free practice session, which was great for her first weekend. I genuinely believe she can have a strong first season and pick up some positive results."
Behind the wheel with Arm
While continuing to help shape future talent, Jessica's own competitive spark still shines bright. This season, she returns to the British GT Championship with MKH Racing, driving an Aston Martin Vantage GT4.
"I'm really happy to be back in British GT.
"I've got a very strong team-mate in Will Orton, and we've been very similar on pace. I can't wait to go racing.
"The season kicks off with the Silverstone 500 on 25-26 April, and we've shown some strong pace in testing.
"The ambition, of course, is to be fighting at the front. The key will be having clean race weekends; there are only six rounds in the season, so we can't afford to have a bad weekend.
"It's also great to continue my relationship with Aston Martin Aramco's AI Compute Platform Partner, Arm, which is supporting me throughout my second year in the series, building on the progress that we made last year.
"It means so much to me to have Arm in my corner. They've been with me every step of the way on my journey in British GT, and together we're passionate about inspiring and empowering the next generation of racing drivers and STEM professionals to find their voice. I'm very excited about what this year holds for us."
If you're taking an interest in F1, you're a fan, and this sport is for you. Everyone's welcome.
Do F1 your way
Once the chequered flag falls at Silverstone, Miami will draw into sharp focus. One of the busiest weekends of her year, Jessica will be touching down in Magic City to attend an array of events and spend time with fans and team partners.
"We're teaming up with our Global Energy Drinks Partner Celsius for the latest leg of our Run Club, the Beach Run at Pier 5 in downtown Miami. I can't wait to get my trainers on and tackle the 5K with fans – we're expecting around 2,500 people there – and I'll also be meeting fans at The Stilt House, our pop-up experience on South Beach. There are also some events with Aston Martin and Racing Pride, and I'll be doing Hot Laps around the circuit over the weekend."
The interactions in those moments matter. Formula One is open to everyone, yet it can still seem like a place where you have to prove you belong. That's why Aston Martin Aramco introduced I / AM when it returned to the grid in 2021 – to offer a different perspective and provide a platform for every fan to bring your thing and do F1 your way.
When I / AM lands in the 305 for the Miami Grand Prix next week, it will bring the city to life through moments designed to be explored, felt, and shared. Miami is a city where tradition and new energy meet: a fitting locale to celebrate fandom in all its forms and an opportunity to remind everyone that no matter how long you've followed F1 or how you found the sport, you're welcome.
"It doesn't matter if you've been following the sport for a week or 30 years, or if you're getting up at 4am to watch, you're watching the highlights the next day, or if your way of expressing fandom is in your F1 streetwear. If you're taking an interest in F1, you're a fan, and this sport is for you. Everyone's welcome."
It's a message that ties everything together – Jessica's journey, her advocacy, and her presence in a city like Miami – a place that rewards those willing to step off the expected path.
In the end, Jessica's story isn't just about where she's going, it's about how she's getting there. Not by following the map exactly as it's drawn, but by recognising when to redraw it.
In Miami, that feels like exactly the right approach.
Editor's note: Wilbur the cat made it to the vets in time and is now, we're told, back in rude health.
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I / AM is bringing the 305 to life around the Miami Grand Prix through a series of moments made not for the norm, but for now. Click below to discover the moments built for you to explore, feel, and be part of.
Move fast, look sharp
Follow Jessica's path. Redefine trackside style.
