Susie Wolff open up on the ‘F1 ACADEMY effect’ and the PERTINENT next steps for the future… read more
F1 Academy’s Susie Wolff on Empowering Female Talent and Creating a Pathway to F1
As the F1 Academy prepares to enter its third season, Managing Director Susie Wolff reflects on the progress made so far and the work still to be done in promoting female talent in motorsport. Wolff, a former F1 driver and team principal, has been instrumental in shaping the F1 Academy into a platform that provides opportunities for young female drivers to develop their skills and compete at the highest level.
The 2025 season will see the introduction of a dedicated Wild Card seat at every round, increasing the grid to 18 cars. Wolff believes this expansion will provide more opportunities for talented young drivers to gain experience and develop their skills. “We need to show that we are creating the right platform for drivers to progress upwards,” she says.
One driver who has already benefited from the F1 Academy’s support is Abbi Pulling, the 2024 champion. Pulling has received a fully-funded seat in the GB3 Championship with Rodin Motorsport, alongside 20 days of testing to support her campaign. Wolff is keen to see Pulling succeed, stating, “We are 100% behind Abbi. We want to give her the best shot of success in the next category up.”
The F1 Academy’s impact extends beyond the drivers competing in the series. The program has also inspired a new generation of young female karters, with participation in the Champions of the Future Academy (COTFA) program increasing significantly. Wolff emphasizes the importance of developing and nurturing this pipeline of talent, saying, “It’s about developing and nurturing the pipeline to make sure that we have the next generation coming through.”
As the F1 Academy continues to grow and develop, Wolff remains committed to creating a pathway for female talent to reach the pinnacle of motorsport. “I would like to see there being big competition for the best 18 drivers to make it in,” she says. “I would love to see the progression of the best onwards and upwards in motorsport.”
With the F1 Academy’s Netflix docuseries set to launch, Wolff hopes that the program will help to raise the profile of the series and inspire more young girls to get involved in motorsport. “I think it’s going to put us on the map,” she says.
As Wolff looks to the future, she remains focused on the long-term goal of getting a female driver onto the F1 grid. While acknowledging that it’s a numbers game, with only 22 spots available, Wolff is confident that the F1 Academy is making progress in creating a pathway for female talent to succeed. “This was always a long-term project,” she says. “In the mid to long-term, we need to see more young girls competing in karting and more talented young drivers progressing up the ladder in the hope that one can make it to the pinnacle of the sport.”
