Pursuing a career in Formula 1 is a five-year goal that W Series stars Abbi Pulling and Jamie Chadwick have not given up on, despite doubts from CEO Stefano Domenicali.

The Italian manager recently said: "Unless there is something like a meteorite, I don’t see a girl coming into F1 in the next five years."

Pulling, who burst onto the W Series scene last year, is aiming to reach the highest level of single-seater racing alongside two-time W Series champion Chadwick.

The two British drivers are widely admired for their ability on the track and both have set their sights on making it to F1.

Despite Domenicali not convinced we will see a woman make the leap so soon, both Chadwick and Pulling have admitted they have found motivation in his comments.

The Formula 1 dream

F1 has not had a woman on the grid since Lella Lombardi in 1976.

Motorsport has been heavily male-dominated for many years but the tide is starting to change as more women than ever are involved as engineers, ambassadors, and development drivers.

Chadwick is committed to becoming one of, if not the first woman to break through the glass ceiling and compete in F1.

Jamie Chadwick celebrates winning at Silverstone
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 02: Race winner Jamie Chadwick of Great Britain and Jenner Racing (55) celebrates on the podium during the W Series Round 3 race at Silverstone on July 02, 2022 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Race winner Jamie Chadwick of Great Britain and Jenner Racing (55) celebrates on the podium during the W Series Round 3 race at Silverstone on July 02, 2022 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

"My goal is definitely to try and make it within five years, so we'll see," the Brit said in a recent press conference. "There's a lot I need to achieve in that time but my goal is still very much to try and go through the correct feeder series and have success in that to be in Formula 1 within five years."

She stressed the importance of "leaning on the people who do believe" she can make it all the way to F1 and brushed off Domenicali's recent comments.

"[It] doesn't really bother me. It's motivation I guess, if nothing else."

W Series drivers
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - JULY 30: Jamie Chadwick of Great Britain and Jenner Racing (55) leads Marta Garcia of Spain and CortDAO W Series Team (19) during the W Series Round 5 race at Hungaroring on July 30, 2022 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - JULY 30: Jamie Chadwick of Great Britain and Jenner Racing (55) leads Marta Garcia of Spain and CortDAO W Series Team (19) during the W Series Round 5 race at Hungaroring on July 30, 2022 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Pulling echoed Chadwick's dedication to proving doubters wrong.

The 19-year-old is one of the youngest drivers on the W Series grid and she was recently selected to take part in a Formula 3 test.

This valuable experience will play a huge part in her journey climbing through the ranks to reach the very top.

"It's definitely motivation to prove people wrong," Pulling told GiveMeSport Women. "If you look at my trajectory and if everything goes 100 per cent perfect then there is the possibility to be in Formula 1 in five years.

"But it's a short period of time, I think if he had said ten years, I would absolutely disagree with him."

Abbi Pulling celebrates a podium finish with W Series

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 21: Second placed Abbi Pulling of Great Britain and Racing X (49) celebrates on the podium during the W Series Round 2 race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 21, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Interestingly enough, Domenicali is not as closed off to the idea of women in F1 as his recent comments have made him seem.

Earlier this year, the CEO took part in a quick-fire 'Yes or No' question segment and was positive about the idea of introducing a female driver to the F1 grid in the next ten years.

"That's a big hope," Domenicali admitted.

Pulling said it brings her "hope and confidence" that F1 does also share the dream of welcoming women back onto the grid, it's now just a matter of seeing who will be the first to make the transition and when that historic moment may come.

Since making her W Series debut at Silverstone last year, Pulling has earned three podiums and is hot on the heels of experienced drivers Beitske Visser and Alice Powell in terms of points.

Currently sitting in fourth place, Pulling will look to close the three-point gap and edge her way into second place with a strong performance in Singapore.

The W Series will race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on October 2nd for the first time in its history as the sixth round of the 2022 calendar gets underway.