As the sun sets over Silverstone, the F1 paddock buzzes with anticipation. It’s 2014, and Susie Wolff, behind the wheel of a Williams car, is about to make history as the first woman to take part in an F1 weekend in 22 years. Although her car would stall in practice and Wolff would not race, the moment still marked a significant milestone in the sport’s history. For Wolff, and many others, it was a dream that seemed just out of reach.
Fast-forward a decade, and the race for female participation in Formula 1 continues. Wolff, now the managing director of F1 Academy, is leading a movement to change the narrative. The F1 Academy, an all-female talent series aimed at developing young female drivers, is one of the key initiatives designed to encourage and nurture the next generation of women in motorsport.
But why has it taken so long for women to be represented in F1, a sport that has seen only a handful of female drivers in its history? Maria Teresa de Filippis became the first woman to race in F1 in the 1950s, followed by a few others, including Lella Lombardi, who is still the only woman to have scored points in a World Championship race. Since then, the presence of women in the sport has dwindled, and in recent years, F1 teams have employed female development drivers with no intention of letting them race.
The absence of women on the F1 grid has led to frustration, but the landscape is changing. The short-lived W Series, which launched in 2019, offered a platform for female drivers to showcase their talents, though it folded last year. Still, its spirit endures, and with it comes optimism for the future of women in motorsport. The modern era, with its higher technical demands, has made the path to F1 more complex, but initiatives like the F1 Academy and the Discover Your Drive grassroots program are providing hope.
Susie Wolff, with her extensive experience as both a driver and a manager, is now pushing for a cultural shift. “Female participation in motorsport has never gone above 5%, so we need to create more role models and increase the talent pool,” she says. “This is a movement, not just a moment.”
Wolff’s optimism is echoed by others in the sport. McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, believes that it will take time but is confident that women will soon have the opportunity to race in F1. “We need a much greater volume of participants at grassroots,” Brown explains. “It’s about a 10-year journey, and we’re just getting started.”
The F1 Academy is showing signs of success. Abbi Pulling, who won the 2024 F1 Academy title, is among the rising stars in the sport. “If it’s not me or the other girls in this championship, hopefully it’s the 10-year-old watching us,” Pulling says. “The support I’ve been getting is huge, and that’s what’s keeping me racing.”
There’s also emerging talent like France’s Doriane Pin, who has impressed in sports car racing, and other young drivers eager to follow in the footsteps of the legends before them. The groundwork is being laid, and the dream of seeing a woman start an F1 race is becoming more plausible.
F1’s Chief Executive, Stefano Domenicali, remains optimistic about the future but refrains from predicting a specific timeline. “It will happen,” he asserts confidently. The momentum is building, and with it, the hope that one day, women will no longer be a rare sight in F1 but an integral part of the sport.
Wolff herself remains a passionate advocate for change. “It will mean everything to me,” she says, reflecting on the future of women in F1. “There are no physical barriers in terms of the demands of the cars. It is possible.”
As the clock ticks down, the sport is evolving, and the dream of seeing a woman race in Formula 1 may soon become reality. It’s not just about breaking records; it’s about creating a legacy, changing perceptions, and inspiring future generations of female drivers.
The race is far from over, but with figures like Wolff, Pulling, and others leading the charge, the future of women in motorsport looks brighter than ever.
