In the fast-paced world of Formula 1, a remarkable story is unfolding. A decade ago, Susie Wolff made history as a woman competing in a Formula 1 car during the 2014 British Grand Prix. But her moment was cut short by an oil pressure problem. Now, as the managing director of the Formula 1-affiliated all-female F1 Academy and Formula 4 level talent series, Wolff is at the forefront of another big moment.

Empowering the Next Generation of Female Racing Stars

Breaking Barriers: Susie Wolff's Early Days

Susie Wolff faced numerous challenges in her pursuit of a place in Formula 1. "Most probably now looking back with perspective, I had to work harder for their respect because there was just that underlying doubt that I was good enough," she recalls. In a very male-dominated environment, she had to deal with the natural scepticism and the attention focused on her gender instead of her performances on track. But she remained determined and focused on her goal.There was a commotion in the Silverstone paddock when she emerged through a doorway behind a waiting car. Hundreds of camera shutters clicked as journalists jostled for a view. It was a moment she had dreamed of her whole life.

The Challenges of Today

In her current role at F1, Wolff faces different challenges. "In my role there are days where I get despondent by… 'lack of support' is the wrong word… but how difficult it is to break tradition and to come with the F1 Academy to encourage people that this is something that needs to be given time and space and support," she says. Female participation in motorsport has never gone above 5%, so creating visible role models and increasing participation is crucial.The short-lived but significant W Series changed the landscape in 2019 before folding last year. It was a welcome disruption in a sport too often asleep to diversity. The spirit of the W Series remains, and with it comes a new optimism in a more structured sport in the modern age.

Why the Progress is Slow

After Maria Teresa de Filippis' three starts in the 1950s and further breakthroughs in the 1970s, the presence of women in F1 has reduced over the past decade. It leaves Lombardi as the last woman to sit on the Formula 1 grid, 48 years ago. The recent trend of female 'development drivers' at F1 teams was dismissed by many as tokenism. But the prospects are improving.Initiatives like the new F1 Academy Discover Your Drive, a grassroots programme to encourage female participation from ages as young as eight, and the formal diversity and inclusion charter introduced last week are steps in the right direction.

The Road to the Grid

McLaren chief executive Zak Brown believes it takes a long journey from karting to Formula 1. "If you look at the trajectory and journey any driver has to go on, for every driver that wants to be Oscar [Piastri] or Lando [Norris], you need about 10,000 of them to try simulators or karting until you get that volume of participation," he says.Other figures in the F1 paddock are optimistic too. Stefano Domenicali, the sport's chief executive, will not predict a timeframe but says "it will happen". And Abbi Pulling, who won this year's F1 Academy title during the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, is a key figure. "We'll never know specifically [when it will be]," she says. "If not in the next five to 10 years, then we hope that it's soon."Following her title win, Pulling will take a fully funded seat in the British GB3 championship to continue her journey.

The Power of Change

Wolff has brought experience and a sense of mission to her role as F1 Academy boss. She believes there are no physical barriers in terms of the demands of the cars. F1 cars have power-steering, and cars in supporting categories do not."Having driven an F1 car, and having driven it very competitively, I know it's possible," she says. "It's not something I'm trying to guess or convince people of; it's something I fundamentally believe. It is possible."If she looks back 10 years, she can feel how much the sport has changed. The fanbase is growing, with 40% of the audience now being female, and the fastest growing demographic is 18-24 year olds. The idea that Formula 1 is for older males has been shattered.Wolff concludes: "I always had a vision. It would mean everything to me." The clock, though, is still ticking.