Susie Wolff Eyes Future of Women in F1

Susie Wolff became a trailblazer for women in motorsport in 2014 driving in a Formula 1 practice session at Silverstone but her career ended soon after. A decade later, Wolff’s role has shifted from driver to managing director of the F1 Academy, an all-female series aimed at fostering female talent in motorsport. Wolff acknowledges the challenges of increasing female participation, noting that women have never accounted for more than 5% of the sport’s participants.

Her focus is now on breaking traditions and creating a stronger pipeline of female drivers through grassroots initiatives like the F1 Academy. Wolff’s perspective has changed. “We are a movement, not a moment,” she says, pushing for a long-term shift in the sport’s culture. In her role, she’s working to increase participation, create role models and establish a more integrated pathway for women into motorsport. While progress is slow, Wolff remains optimistic pointing to the talent emerging from initiatives like the F1 Academy.

Despite improvements, the challenge of seeing women on the F1 grid remains. The last female driver to race in F1 was Lella Lombardi in 1976. Still, there is optimism. Abbi Pulling, the 2023 F1 Academy champion hopes to see a woman on the grid within the next decade. Industry figures including McLaren’s Zak Brown and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, echo this sentiment, acknowledging the long journey ahead but believing in eventual success.

Susie Wolff believes the physical demands of F1 cars aren’t a barrier for women and that with the right support, a woman will race in F1 in the next 10 years. As the sport evolves, Wolff is driven by a vision that “it would mean everything” to see a woman on the grid and she’s working hard to make it a reality.