🇮🇹 Maria de Filippis

Maria de Filippis was an Italian racing driver who competed in Formula 1 during 1958 with Maserati, making three championship starts. Her rating of 5,194 places her in the established professional band; this describes a driver with a full-time seat at the top level or equivalent standing in international racing, capable of wins in the strongest fields. De Filippis competed among the front-runners of her era, though she did not score points or podiums in her three races, finishing on average in tenth position.[1]

De Filippis holds particular historical significance as the first woman to race in Formula 1. She drove for Maserati, a team that fielded some of the era's strongest drivers including Juan Fangio, and her entry into the sport at the highest level was a notable milestone. Her competitive record was brief; her activity ceased after 1958. Beyond her Formula 1 appearances, she won races in other series, though those results fall outside the scope of this record.[2]