Susie Wolff believes it is “inevitable” that a woman will eventually race in Formula 1, but the F1 Academy Managing Director insists that placing one female driver on the Grand Prix grid is not the championship’s sole measure of success. For Wolff, the bigger mission is cultural: breaking down stereotypes that discourage girls from entering motorsport before they have even reached a kart track.
F1 Academy has grown rapidly into one of motorsport’s most followed categories, behind only Formula 1 itself and ahead of Formula 2 and Formula 3. Speaking directly to GP-News.net during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Wolff explained how attitudes have changed in recent years, why major barriers still remain and how families, commercial partners, racing organisations and the wider paddock all have a role to play in increasing female participation.
The all-female championship has created a highly visible platform for young drivers, but Wolff repeatedly stresses that its purpose goes far beyond producing a single Formula 1 star. The long-term ambition is to change perceptions about who belongs in motorsport, both behind the wheel and throughout the enormous professional ecosystem surrounding racing.
What is the ultimate goal of F1 Academy?
What is the ultimate goal of F1 Academy?
“The purpose, which many people misunderstand, is not simply to get a woman into Formula 1. In a really short period of time, we have tackled people’s stereotypes within this environment and we have created a talent pool that is making its way through the sport. We are not a governing body, but simply a series with an enormous task. We have to be a championship while at the same time trying to help our winner continue to succeed in the sport.”
“We are incredibly fortunate to have the full support of Formula 1 and the teams. That has allowed us to bring in brands and partnerships that have never existed in this context before. Most importantly, it has helped us connect with our new global Formula 1 fan base.”
“So I would say that we are here to challenge the stereotype that there is no place for women in this sport, whether on the track or away from it, but also to inspire new generations to look at motorsport differently.”
Susie Wolff says motorsport stereotypes still vary enormously between cultures
When it comes to stereotypes, do you think women or young girls can internalise them and perhaps start believing themselves that they do not have what it takes?
“It differs depending on the culture. There are certain places, such as the United States, that are incredibly advanced in this respect. Young women now see women’s sport as something inspirational and of great value. In some European countries, it is going to take a little longer to break down those stereotypes.”
“Even from my own personal experience of more than 25 years in this sport, there used to be this idea that if you liked racing, you automatically had to be a tomboy, that you were somehow an exception.”
“In reality, the female Formula 1 audience has now reached 42% of the global audience and I think it will continue to grow. I think we are breaking down those stereotypes. We are showing that you can be feminine, love fashion, follow the girlfriends and wives of the drivers and at the same time love racing, whether you want to become an engineer, a racing driver or simply a fan.”
“It shows these women that there is a place for them in this sport, and I think that is a huge step forward.”
Girls still face different barriers before entering motorsport
Do you think girls and women today still face more obstacles in their careers than men?
“Yes. We received some incredible statistics from our partner Dirt is Good. A survey was carried out among parents across Europe and it showed that boys are 38% more likely to be encouraged to learn how something mechanical works.”
“Seven out of ten parents agree that boys are more likely to receive tools, science kits or racing-themed gifts. Many relatives say that society believes men are more capable than women in motorsport.”
“We can see that those stereotypes exist, and we also know from various governing bodies that female participation in this sport is very low. There is work to be done.”
The first motorsport barrier can begin inside the family
So very often, is the first barrier within the family?
“One hundred per cent, because a young girl cannot drive herself to a kart track and she cannot buy herself a go-kart. She needs a parent who believes it is possible for her to compete in this sport and who is willing to take her to the circuit.”
“Then, away from the kart track, at home, a young girl needs to hear that it is absolutely acceptable for her to want to become an engineer or an aerodynamicist in Formula 1.”
“At the moment, I’m not sure that every parent believes there is space for their daughters to find opportunities or to become successful.”
Wolff explains how men can help change motorsport culture
What advice would you give to men who want to help change the system?
“Sometimes people underestimate how much small actions can have a profound effect. The language you use when talking about women competing in our sport, the language you use to express your expectations for your daughter, or the support you show towards F1 Academy all play a major role in the way young girls see themselves in the world and how they perceive the opportunity to become involved in motorsport.”
“Having said that, I think there is a great deal of awareness among the people making decisions in this paddock. Our sport has changed enormously from a cultural perspective.”
“We have an incredible female fan base that we need to speak to, and I think there is a lot of positivity around what we are doing. Of course, I am the first person to say that more should be done, but when speaking to men in influential positions, I would tell them not to underestimate their influence.”
How young girls can find their route into motorsport
Staying with the subject of advice, what would you say to a young girl who is considering starting karting?
“Starting with the racing side, I would say there is an enormous network of kart tracks where you can begin. For girls who would like to become mechanics or engineers, I would say that we have incredibly successful women in the paddock who can act as role models.”
“It is about finding inspiration from people within the sport and understanding what your own interests are. This weekend alone there are 22 Formula 1 drivers and 18 F1 Academy drivers, but within this ecosystem there are thousands of people who are here for this race.”
“Find the part of that ecosystem that interests you, find out who works in those positions and allow yourself to be inspired.”
Why female representation matters to the next generation
What do the indicators tell you about more young girls starting karting, and how important is it for them to see themselves represented?
“Starting with that, I would say that having female visibility is incredibly important. Sometimes in life you need to see something before you can believe it is possible, and the girls racing today are definitely role models for the new generations.”
“We cannot forget how powerful it is to see a young girl putting on a Ferrari or Mercedes race suit and going out on track during the same weekend as Formula 1.”
“Then there are all the jobs away from the track, such as the female engineers we have in the paddock. It is an entire ecosystem that inspires women through other successful women in the sport.”
Wolff also sees signs of progress first-hand through her own family, having spent increasing amounts of time at kart circuits with her young son.
“As for the girls coming through, I’m very fortunate to have a young son who has recently started racing, so I spend a large part of my free time at kart tracks. I can see first-hand how many more girls are appearing.”
“Obviously we would like to see many more, but we are on a positive trajectory. There are so many more girls, and it is important for us that parents also see that there is now a pathway for them.”
“I think this is a sport with enormous financial barriers to entry. Making it is difficult for any driver, regardless of gender, but F1 Academy has now become a destination they can aspire to reach.”
Why F1 Academy remains an all-female championship
One of the debates is about the best approach to helping young girls become involved in motorsport. Is there a risk in grouping female drivers together in a separate championship instead of helping them race in Formula 4, Formula 3 or Formula 2?
“I could answer yes, but how would you make that work commercially? If I had a huge amount of money, I could go out and support 10 female drivers in 10 different championships, but how would you fund that over the long term?”
“There isn’t a pot of gold containing €10 million that we can give to our drivers every year. It is because of the entire F1 Academy model that we are able to have partners and a commercial structure that can remain stable over the medium and long term, while also having a much greater impact than simply supporting 10 drivers.”
Wolff believes the visibility generated by appearing alongside Formula 1 enables F1 Academy to influence perceptions far beyond the 18 drivers competing on a race weekend.
“Being here this weekend, thanks to our partnerships, allows us to reach a much wider audience and to do much more than simply support 18 drivers.”
“We are able to challenge perceptions about who belongs here and bring in beauty brands, as well as collaborations such as Hello Kitty.”
“I agree that ideally you probably wouldn’t want to segregate those 18 drivers, but by doing it we are able to create a huge impact, and the best driver should then continue and achieve further success in motorsport.”
“We know how difficult it is to find funding, but we fully support our champion. By existing as an exclusively female championship, we are able to do much more.”
“That does not mean we are saying women cannot race against men. You can go into any category and do exactly that. For example, many of our drivers compete in Formula 4, but they are only able to do so because they have our support and the visibility provided by F1 Academy.”
F1 Academy must also be commercially sustainable
The issue of separating female and male drivers is also connected to the wider debate around quotas, which can be useful but can also have unintended consequences in any area of life.
“Sometimes it is very easy for people looking from the outside to say, ‘You should do this or you should do that’, but you have to deal with an economic reality.”
“We are not a governing body. We do not receive enormous amounts of money that we can simply invest in developing female talent.”
“I have received tremendous support, but building something that is financially sustainable and that provides a return on investment for the Formula 1 teams and for our partners is a difficult task.”
Can women and men compete together in Formula 1?
What would you say to people who claim women and men cannot compete together on track?
“Well, I drove a Formula 1 car and Doriane Pin has just done it. I firmly believe it is possible.”
“I think it is difficult for any driver to reach Formula 1, regardless of gender. There are so many male drivers who would deserve to be on that grid and who will never get the opportunity.”
“But I am absolutely convinced that if a girl were fast enough and talented enough, she could compete at this level.”
Pin’s progression has provided F1 Academy with an important example of its development pathway. After winning the championship, the French driver went on to drive a Mercedes Formula 1 car, demonstrating the type of opportunity Wolff wants the series’ strongest competitors to be able to pursue.
How should female success in motorsport be covered?
What is the best journalistic approach to covering a positive female example in motorsport? Should it be treated as an exception or not?
“I hope that one day we reach the point where there is no distinction between a male driver and a female driver. They will not be exceptions, but today they still are.”
Wolff then pointed to Italy as an example of a country where cultural barriers remain particularly visible despite its enormous motorsport heritage.
“When it comes to Italy, I spend a lot of time there with my son racing. There are no Italian female drivers, not in karting, not in Formula 4, not elsewhere.”
“There is clearly a cultural perception problem in Italy, despite Antonelli, who is now a superstar, or the legacy of Ferrari.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s profile has risen dramatically during the 2026 season, with the Mercedes driver building a remarkable collection of Formula 1 records, but Wolff believes that kind of national motorsport enthusiasm has yet to translate into comparable female participation in Italy.
“In some countries, we see that when organisations are very proactive in getting girls interested in the sport, there can be major consequences within a short period of time, with many more women taking part.”
“Italy, however, is an example where we see almost no female talent.”
Susie Wolff sees support rather than resistance inside the F1 paddock
As projects such as F1 Academy and Women in Motorsport grow, do you feel there is greater awareness, or perhaps greater resistance, from male personnel within the paddock?
“Resistance? I would say no. I receive enormous support from the entire ecosystem.”
“Sometimes I get the impression that people expect F1 Academy to solve every problem, but we are a championship, not a governing body. There is a limit to what we can do with what we are given.”
“I think that in a short period of time we have shown the impact we can have, but there definitely needs to be a collective effort. The responsibility for solving every problem — or rather, breaking down every barrier — cannot fall entirely on us.”
When could a woman race in Formula 1 again?
The million-dollar question: what is a realistic timeframe for seeing a woman race in Formula 1 again?
“I think that, if we do a good job, it is inevitable that sooner or later a woman will reach Formula 1.”
“I don’t like giving a specific timeframe, because obviously that would not be fair to the drivers who are racing today.”
“But I also don’t think success for us is simply getting a woman into Formula 1. It is the pinnacle of motorsport and it is incredibly difficult to reach, regardless of gender.”
“There are many young men who would deserve the opportunity to race at the highest level in Formula 2 who will never sit in a Formula 1 car.”
“I don’t want to put a timeframe on it. But do I think it will happen sooner or later? Absolutely yes.”
A female F1 driver would not be the only definition of success
How important would that moment be for you personally, considering your own experience?
“That will not be the moment I define as the great victory.”
“I have seen Doriane Pin drive a Mercedes Formula 1 car. It brought back some wonderful memories of me driving a Formula 1 car.”
“I don’t think that simply seeing a woman on the Formula 1 grid will be the moment when I think, ‘Finally, we have made it.’”
“We will have a positive impact on this sport regardless of whether we manage to get a woman into Formula 1.”
That distinction sits at the heart of Wolff’s vision for F1 Academy. Producing a future Grand Prix driver would undoubtedly be a landmark moment, but the programme’s broader ambition is to expand the talent pool, make motorsport feel accessible to girls from an earlier age and create visible opportunities throughout racing — from the cockpit to engineering, mechanics, aerodynamics and countless other roles.
For Wolff, changing the culture therefore matters just as much as changing the Formula 1 grid. If more girls grow up believing that motorsport is a place where they belong, the pathway towards eventually seeing another woman compete at the highest level becomes stronger almost by itself.
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