Susie Wolff appointed Managing Director of F1 Academy

Susie Wolff has been appointed as the Managing Director of F1 Academy, an all-female driver category, with the aim for women to progress through the junior Formula categories.

Formula 1 and F1 Academy announced, on Wednesday, that Suzie Wolff will join the all-female driver category as Managing Director which aims to develop and prepare female drivers to progress up the junior categories, towards F1.

As Managing Director, Wolff is expected to deepen the commitment which has been made by sport to increase the opportunities for young female drivers to make it in the highest echelon of single-seater motorsports. Wolff will report directly to F1 President and CEO, Stefano Domenicali, and will lead the development of female motorsport talent with a target to create a successful route through the F1 feeder series.

Wolff has previously been an advocate to increase participation for women in all levels of motorsport and she will be able to lean on her experience as a professional driver and a team leader, with her time leading the Venturi Formula E team as Team Principle.

On the appointment, Wolff said:

“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.

“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.

“It can inspire women around the world to follow their dreams and realise 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.”

The programme is expected to provide the academy, the teams and the drivers with a strategic approach – and insight – to support the 15 Academy drivers through their journey through the Formula pyramid.

W Series seemed to lack in this progression after three-time world champion, the only champion of the series, Jamie Chadwick moved over to the American Indy NXT series as she struggled to break through into a junior Formula category (Formula 3 or Formula 2).

Congratulating Wolff on her new role, the General Manager of the F1 Academy, Bruno Michel said:

“It is great news for the F1 Academy to have Susie joining us ahead of the start of our first season. She will be invaluable to me and my team as well as all of the drivers.

“We can’t wait to get started on the track with this exciting new chapter that will provide another route into the pyramid system for talented female drivers. I am of the strong view that if we give these drivers the same amount of time and experience as any other driver, they can make their way to higher levels in our sport.”

The F1 Academy will see its inaugural season start this year with seven rounds completing the calendar, starting in Austria (on April 28-29, 2023) and ending its first season as a support category to the F1 United States Grand Prix (on October 22, 2023).

That’s all for the article; Susie Wolff appointed Managing Director of F1 Academy!

What do you think of the upcoming F1 Academy series? Let us know in the comments!

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.