De Heus: 'A lot of people hate women in motorsport'

Everyone's experience is different when you ask them about what it is like to be a woman in motorsport. De Heus said the topic has only recently been asked a lot. “I’ve been asked that question a lot. It’s actually quite strange. When I used to drive, no one really talked about it. Actually, ever since I’ve been in the car.”

What is it like for De Heus to work in motorsport as a woman?

"Personally, I don't really experience it differently, I think," the 21-year-old said openly. "I don’t know how a boy would experience it compared to me. You’re still a bit focused on yourself. That sounds very selfish, but everyone is focused on themselves for the match and everything. So I don’t really think about being a boy or a girl.”

De Heus does not think much about it. "I'm just myself. I'm a girl. But of course, in some classes, I have a harder time. Like in the other classes that I sometimes ride. Then I just have more trouble comparing my arms with teammates who are boys. So then it's annoying sometimes. But apart from that, not so much."

'A lot of people hate women in motorsport'

The Dutchwoman was then asked about whether she ever has to deal with negative comments or prejudices. "Not necessarily in a team itself. Not that. There I am always treated normally," she said.

"But sometimes I do, people online anyway. A lot of people who talk anonymously online, they always have an opinion. I always notice that too. A lot of people hate that there are women in motorsport. No idea why. But I don't really worry about that.”

De Heus also recounted an experience where she thinks she was treated unfavourably, perhaps because she is a girl. "I also had one time in America that I drove a race in Formula 4. It was not a very high class, but I was in second place. Then I got hit under the safety car. Then two more times. And that was just purely because he hated that I was in front of him. I heard that afterwards."

"Whether that was because I was a girl or because I didn't come from there, I don't know. In the end, I laugh about it a bit now, because the race was about nothing. But I also thought it was a bit childish at the time," De Heus said.

This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy

Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels too!

X | Instagram | Tiktok | YouTube