Maria Teresa de Filippis, the first woman to compete in a Formula One race, has died at the age of 89.
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The official Formula One Twitter feed also mourned the passing of an “incredible woman”.
The Italian made five attempts to qualify for Grands Prix in 1958 and 1959, making a total of three starts, all behind the wheel of a privately-entered Maserati 250F, having raced in sportscars for the Italian marque in the years prior.
She then failed to finish races in Portugal and Italy.
On her retirement she maintained her interest in motorsport, joining the Grand Prix Drivers Club, eventually becoming the retired drivers association’s president.
De Filippis attempted to qualify for the opening race of the 1959 season at Monaco, but was unable to make the cut for the 16-car grid with the Behra-Porsche team.
In Belgium she had qualified 19th and last and was lapped twice.
“The only helmet a handsome woman should wear is the one at the hairdressers'”, race director Toto Roche said as he prevented her from entering.
De Filippis walked away from the sport following the death of her team owner Jean Behra later that year, saying in an interview with The Observer in 2006: “Too many friends had died”.
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Only one other woman has competed in a Formula 1 Grand Prix since de Filippis, with Lella Lombardi starting twelve races between 1974 and 1976, while Davina Galica, Desire Wilson and Giovanna Amati have all participated in events but ultimately failed to qualify.
