Maria Teresa De Filippis, 1st Female F1 Driver, Dies at Age 89

Maria Teresa de Filippis, the first-ever woman to race in an official Formula 1 grand prix, died on Saturday at the age of 89. Formula 1's official Twitter account confirmed the news: De Filippis started three races in 1958, in Belgium, Portugal and Italy, and achieved a best finish of 10th place at Spa-Francorchamps. She failed to finish in the two other races and twice unsuccessfully tried to qualify for the iconic Monaco Grand Prix. In an interview with James Eve of the Observer, she revealed she was banned by the racing director of the French Grand Prix that year, who told her: “The only helmet a woman should wear is the one at the hairdresser's.” Those words highlight just how difficult it was―and still is―to b...

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