Facing a male-dominated sport? Susie Wolff embraces the challenge as she dives into the racing arena.
At 42, Wolff, a former professional racer and current managing director of F1 Academy—a league exclusively for female drivers—is leveraging her experience as the latest woman to drive a Formula 1 car during Grand Prix weekends to create opportunities for other women in motorsport.
In just two seasons of F1 Academy, now entering its third, Wolff has made significant strides in nurturing female talent in motorsport. The impact of the league can be seen in Netflix’s new docuseries, F1: The Academy, produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.
Wolff shared with The Hollywood Reporter that the series portrays how the sport is evolving beyond being a male domain. “Without Formula One, Formula One Academy wouldn’t exist… These stories reveal that regardless of gender, there are opportunities in the sport,” she emphasized.
Wolff expressed her aspirations for the F1 Academy and the Netflix series, highlighting the growing interest in F1 among female fans, spurred by shows like Netflix’s Drive to Survive. “It’s crucial they see that the sport is open to female talent,” she noted, aiming to inspire a new generation.
Recognizing the persistent stigma around female drivers, Wolff is hopeful that the series will challenge these perceptions. “With a rising female fan base, expectations from young women in motorsport are changing,” she stated, urging for increased representation.
Despite the early stages of F1 Academy, Wolff is eager to see more women on the F1 grid in the future. “While it’s not the sole measure of success, the goal is to create a pathway for talented female drivers to enter the sport,” she concluded.
F1: The Academy is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
