Born in Frugarolo, Piedmont, she participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 20 July 1974 and finishing her career with half a point. She is the only female Formula One driver in history to have a top six finish in a World Championship race, which she did at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix (Half points were awarded for this race due to a shortened race distance, hence Lombardi received half a point instead of the usual one point). As well as being the sole female driver to score points in Formula One (and the only driver with a career total of half a point), she is one of two who qualified for a Formula One race (the other being compatriot Maria Teresa de Filippis).