In its inaugural season, the new single-seater series for female racers has taken the motorsport world by storm, aiming to provide aspiring female racers with the opportunity and skills that they need in order to qualify for more advanced racing, including championships such as Formula 3, Formula 2, and the elite Formula 1 racing series. The series features 15 racers within 5 teams, hosting 21 races over the course of the year, aiming to have all ten F1 teams with a livery on one car competing in the series. Previous drivers involved in the all-female W series, such as Bianca Bustamante and Marta García are also racing in F1 Academy this year.
F1 Academy Driver Grid 2023
Susie Wolff, the current managing director of F1 Academy, has lots of experience within the motorsports industry, from racing in the DTM series to her previous role as a development driver for Williams, which included several free practice outings. In 2016, she launched her initiative Dare to be Different, calling on individuals to inspire the next generation of female driving talent and help create a successful pathway for female racers to higher categories within the journey to Formula 1. She will be reporting to Stefano Domenicali, F1 President and CEO, aiming to drive this movement forward and pave the way for more girls to be equipped with the experience and support they need to race in the different Formula series. In an announcement by Domenicali according to Formula 1, he expressed his enthusiasm at Wolff joining as F1 Academy Managing Director, having high hopes that the series will be able to gain support as Wolff is spearheading the program. (F1 Racing)
“She has a wealth of experience and first-hand knowledge that will be of huge benefit to all of us and the drivers who are on their journey to progress through the racing pyramid. (F1 Racing)
“We are committed to maximizing the opportunities in our sport for anyone to reach their true potential and achieve their dreams and we believe F1 Academy is a very important part of our plans to be a more diverse and inclusive sport.“ (F1 Racing)
Wolff believes that there is room for improvement in order for the program to be successful, however, she is confident that with a clear focus, this series will allow female racing talents to flourish into the elite levels of racing. “The F1 Academy presents an opportunity to promote genuine change in our industry by creating the best possible structure to find and nurture female talent on their journey to the elite levels of motorsport, both on and off the racetrack. (F1 Racing) “There is a lot of work to be done but there is also a clear determination to get this right. In doing so, I believe the F1 Academy can represent something beyond racing."
According to Formula 1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto, he believes that Susie Wolff is extremely passionate about what she does, and “has long been working hard to develop and prepare young female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition.” He believes that heading the F1 Academy will be able to help accelerate the impact of that strategy. Wolff herself believes that this series will allow women globally to realize their potential and what they can achieve within the motorsports industry. (Francis)
“It can inspire women around the world to follow their dreams and realize that with talent, passion, and determination, there is no limit to what they can achieve.”
“This is also the start of an important new chapter in my career, combining the experience I have developed so far with my passion for diversity and empowerment, so I would like to thank Stefano for entrusting me with a role that means as much to me personally as it does professionally.”
F1 has featured female drivers, such as Lella Lombardi and Maria Teresa de Philippis, the only two women to have raced in F1 since the championship began in 1950 according to The Guardian. Wolff understands the prospect of seeing a female driver on the grid will most likely occur in the foreseeable future, highlighting that it can be and most likely will be 8-10 years before the goal of getting a female racer on the F1 grid will be realistic. “I believe it’s eight to 10 years away from happening,” she told the Guardian. “That’s not just because we are lacking the female talent pool and lacking those who progress through the sport but also because of the realization that getting to F1 is incredibly tough. It’s tough for all of the male drivers. There are only 20 spots on the grid and that’s why it is going to take time. I do believe in eight to 10 years, when we have had continued growth of the talent pool and more females entering the sport, it will be much more realistic.”
“A woman in F1 is not going to happen overnight, I need to manage expectations,” she said. “But I think this foundation and everything we can achieve with the F1 Academy in the medium to long term can be the real driver for change in the sport and that was what compelled me to say: ‘Count me in.’”
In an interview with The Guardian, it has been guaranteed by Wolff that the series will grant racers with prizes and opportunities.
“We already have a prize fund for the winner which means it will be a financial contribution,” she said. “We will make sure she is testing with the right teams and is given a seat in a team 100%. It is not even questionable that the winner won’t progress in the sport. There is such a passion from [the F1 CEO] Stefano Domenicali and the F1 group to see this be successful. It’s not just a box-ticking exercise which is what I have had in many other conversations on diversity.”
With increased support from F1 and beyond, the series has still yet to gain mass media attention and recognition, however, could be an extremely beneficial pathway for female talents in the future. If the series can increase the likelihood of a qualified female racer reaching the prestigious Formula 1 championship within the next two decades, it would be a historical moment, breaking the current 47-year record of a female driver not starting an F1 race since 1976. F1 Academy is currently backed by the FIA, as well as UK-based organizations, hosting initiatives such as Discover Her Drive. Collectively, these will hopefully drive F1 Academy toward success, and have a deep impact on the racing industry and beyond. Ultimately, this is an incredible opportunity for female racers to gain support and develop their expertise to qualify for other racing championships higher up the ladder.
There has been the question of exposure to racing alongside males as well because that will be the realistic scenario in who women will be competing against, therefore the series could consider incorporating racing against male drivers in some way in order for the female racers to gain exposure in a realistic and more aggressive racing environment. This could simulate a race environment similar to that of F3 and F2, in order for female drivers to understand their current level in comparison to the large number of other aspiring drivers. Most importantly, it should challenge the drivers and prove to themselves that they can follow their dreams and reach their potential.
F1 Academy is the start of what could be a fantastic destination on the journey to Formula 1, and will encourage diversity within the sport and show women across the world that anything is possible with determination, support, and resilience.
Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f1academy/
Website: https://www.f1academy.com/
Discover Her Drive Initiative: https://www.f1academy.com/About/3raJxWqscc9cuLU58L6C8v/f1-academy-discover-your-drive
Citations:
[1] "Susie Wolff Announced As New Managing Director of All-female F1 Academy Series." F1 - The Official Home of Formula 1® Racing, 1 Mar. 2023, www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.susie-wolff-announced-as-new-managing-director-of-all-female-f1-academy.AvUWetaULyj1yb4D9asVx.html. Accessed 22 Sept. 2023.
[2] RICHARDS, GILES. "Susie Wolff: ‘Getting a woman on the F1 grid is eight to 10 years away’." The Guardian, 27 Apr. 2023, www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/27/susie-wolff-getting-a-woman-on-f1-grid-is-eight-to-10-years-away. Accessed 22 Sept. 2023.
[3] FRANCIS, ANNA. "F1 Academy launches new global initiative to grow female talent pool." RN365, 9 June 2023, racingnews365.com/f1-academy-launches-new-global-initiative-to-grow-female-talent-pool. Accessed 22 Sept. 2023.
Image References:
[5] https://www.f1academy.com/_next/static/images/fa_logo_footer-1992667600d4ff845995310220de58a8.png
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