The last time a female driver raced in Formula 1 was in 1976. That was almost 50 years ago. Over the past few years, though, the motorsport industry and F1 have made efforts to increase women’s participation in the pinnacle of motorsport. To help the cause, 2019 marked the first season of the W Series, an all-female single-seater racing championship. Following two successful seasons in 2019 and 2021 that saw Jamie Chadwick clinching both titles, the 10-race 2022 season was cut short when expected funding fell through last October. As a result, the series fell through as well, and so did the chances of women making their way into F1. But Chadwick believes Susie Wolff can resurrect that dream.

2023 marks the inaugural season of F1 Academy, a series that’s essentially replaced the W Series. With five teams, with three drivers each, the grid has 15 female drivers fighting for the first F1 Academy Championship. In a calendar featuring 21 races , teams are traveling to seven venues this season, with three races at each. With former driver Susie Wolff at the helm of the organization, Chadwick feels the Academy couldn’t be in better hands.

On the Going Purple Podcast hosted by Lissie Mackintosh, Chadwick was asked how the F1 Academy can make a difference. She replied, “I don’t think the business model [for the W Series] fully worked. It fully funded us all with quite a lot of prize money which, in terms of sustainability, wasn’t something that they could endure. But F1 Academy has a slightly different business model but a similar kind of philosophy, and I think that will make it successful.”

She continued, “I also think Susie [Wolff] being a part of it is going to make a difference because she’s a powerhouse. She’s so well-connected, knows better than anyone. So I’m optimistic in that sense.” Considering the recent steps Wolff has taken to make F1 more accessible to F1 Academy drivers, there’s no doubt she’s steering women’s representation in F1 in the right direction.

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Susie Wolff has enabled F1 Academy to take a step into F1

It’s no secret that F1 is a very limited sport. With just 20 people in the whole world at any point having the privilege to compete in it, the competition to get to it is tough. But Wolff has found a way to make it more accessible for drivers in the Academy. Last month, F1 announced that from 2024, every F1 team will nominate one driver from the Academy, with each team having their livery on one car of their choosing.

After the announcement, Susie Wolff said, as quoted by F1.com, “This landmark moment not only demonstrates the depth of support for F1 Academy from across the F1 community but will inspire a whole generation of young girls to realize the opportunities both on and off track in motorsport.” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali added, “In 2024, the F1 Academy will join our race calendar, raising the awareness and profile of the series globally, and to have the F1 liveries on the grid will be something very special.”

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