ANOTHER WOLFF AT THE HELM

It was July 4, 2014, on the Silverstone circuit when Susie Wolff made her debut as a test driver for Williams, driving the FW36, before reappearing in Germany that same year. Her journey continued the following year, but Susie then announced her retirement from Formula One: a chapter that closed with her behind the wheel of a race car on track but reopened this year with her appointment as the new managing director of the F1 Academy series.

This marks a significant step in Susie’s career: not only does it place her at the helm of the section of the sport focused on developing and preparing young women for success in motorsport categories, but it also proves her active campaign to raise awareness about female presence in the racing world is well on track. Susie herself admitted that her appointment represents “an opportunity to drive real change in the industry,” adding that while much work remains, her determination is unwavering. She expressed optimism, hopeful that her efforts will inspire women worldwide to pursue their dreams and “realize that with talent, passion, and perseverance, there are no limits to what can be achieved.”

After all, this new role is also the dream of the young Stoddart—Susie’s maiden name—who spent her days in her parents’ dealership and on the racetrack with her father. This new chapter in her career combines the expertise she has honed over the years as both a driver and a team principal with her passion for female empowerment. These qualities were also highlighted by Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One Group, in his remarks to the press: he described Susie as an incredible individual who understands what it takes to reach the highest levels of motorsport, both as a former driver and a team principal.

Susie’s career certainly embodies Domenicali’s words: after breaking through the stereotypes that claimed women would never set foot in the Formula One paddock, she founded the nonprofit Dare to be Different in 2016, rooted in her ambitions and hopes, promoting the change she began behind the wheel of a Williams car. Her journey brought her, three years later, to collaborate with the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, where she led a program for young women aged 8 to 18 with a passion for racing, culminating in events held alongside Formula E in various locations.

An exemplary resume has made Susie Wolff one of the most beloved and competent figures in the world of motorsport. From a young girl accompanying her father to being called the best woman in the world behind the wheel of a kart; from being granted an Honorary Fellowship by the University of Edinburgh in 2013 for her work as an ambassador for female representation in sports, to receiving the honor of Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2017 for her “services” to women in motorsport through her work both on and off the track.