The first woman to compete in a Formula One Grand Prix, Maria Teresa de Filippis made her debut on 18 May 1958 at the Monaco Grand Prix. Born in 1926 in Marigliano, Italy, she built a career in motorsport that eventually led her to the pinnacle of open-wheel racing despite facing significant institutional resistance.
Early Racing Career
De Filippis began racing at the age of 22 following the conclusion of World War II. After winning an initial 10 km race between Salerno and Cava de' Tirreni in a Fiat 500, she moved into the Italian sports car championship. Her performance in the 1954 season earned her second place, which led to her recruitment as a works driver for Maserati. During the mid-1950s, she participated in various hillclimbing and endurance events, including a second-place finish at a sportscar race held during the 1956 Naples Grand Prix.
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In 1958, de Filippis entered the Formula One World Championship using a Maserati 250F. Her first attempt at the Monaco Grand Prix resulted in a failure to qualify. She successfully entered the 1958 Belgian Grand Prix, where she finished 10th and last. Later that year, she competed in the Portuguese Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, suffering engine failures in both races. Her final attempt to qualify for a Grand Prix occurred in 1959 with the Behra-Porsche RSK team at Monaco, but she did not secure a grid position.
Retirement and Later Years
Following the death of teammate Jean Behra during the 1959 German Grand Prix support race at AVUS, de Filippis retired from professional driving. She married Austrian chemist Theodor Huschek around 1960 and ceased all involvement with the sport until 1979. She then joined the International Club of Former F1 Grand Prix Drivers, serving as vice-president starting in 1997. In 2004, she helped found the Maserati Club and served as its chairperson. De Filippis died in 2016 in Scanzorosciate.
Fast facts
- Born: 1926, Marigliano
- Died: 2016, Scanzorosciate
- Citizenship: Italy
- Formula One debut: 18 May 1958
- Primary team: Maserati
- Final Grand Prix qualification attempt: 1959
- Role: International Club of Former F1 Grand Prix Drivers vice-president
Questions readers ask
How many Formula One races did she start?
She participated in five World Championship Grands Prix.
Did she score any championship points?
No, she did not score any championship points during her Formula One career.
Achievements
- Worked as Formula One driver
