Women Rewriting the Grid: the Rise of F1 Academy
Why F1 ACADEMY is changing the game for female racers.
Historically, there has only been one female Formula 1 driver. Giovanna Amati entered Formula 1 in 1992 with Brabham. However, her legacy is largely defined by an underperforming car in a struggling team. This raises an important question: if given equal equipment, would she have had a fair opportunity to compete? It would be over two decades before another woman, Susie Wolff, participated in a Formula 1 session, and only in practice.
This is where F1 ACADEMY steps in: a system designed for women, not against them.
Founded in 2023, F1 ACADEMY is a Formula 4-level all-female racing championship, designed to develop young female drivers and bridge the gap between karting and higher levels of motorsport, such as Formula 1. It is designed as a stepping stone, enabling women to climb the competitive ladder. Unlike previous initiatives, F1 ACADEMY is deeply integrated into the Formula 1 ecosystem. Races support F1 weekends, with all 10 Formula 1 teams backing drivers.
For managing director Susie Wolff, the series represents long-term change. Drawing from her own experiences in motorsport, she understands both the talent required and the deep-rooted systemic barriers that prevent progression.
As she explained in an interview with Formula1.com:
“We had one shot to get this right, and that meant creating something that wasn’t just visible, but sustainable. This isn’t about a moment in time — it’s about building a long-term pathway for female drivers.”
She highlights a key issue within motorsport: it has never lacked talent, it has lacked systems that support women. As she said to Motorsport.com:
“There’s no lack of talent — what’s been missing is opportunity.”
Visibility matters, and F1 ACADEMY knows it.
F1 Academy has a commitment to collaborate with brands that resonate with female audiences, integrating them into the world of motorsport.
The 2025 collaboration with Hello Kitty for the final race in Las Vegas highlights this approach. Rather than distancing itself from femininity, the series embraces it as a form of power.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Susie Wolff addresses this directly:
“We’re also changing the perceptions of the sport… It can be both.”
It challenges the long-standing assumption that femininity and racing are incompatible. For decades, women in motorsport have faced a dilemma: suppress their femininity to be taken seriously, or risk your chance in motorsport. F1 ACADEMY redefines that narrative.
The newer partnerships with brands like Sephora and LEGO further demonstrate a shift in how motorsport markets itself to women and girls, expanding its audience and establishing who belongs within the sport.
Representation extends beyond participation into visibility. Drivers like Doriane Pin reflect a new generation of racers who finally being seen.
She reflected on this, as said to Formula1.com:
“For young girls watching, it’s important they can finally see someone they can relate to on track. When I was younger, I didn’t really have that.”
Why is it that this feeder series actually works?
What makes F1 ACADEMY different from anything previously attempted is that it tackles multiple barriers at once, including access and opportunity. It provides a platform for competition and, crucially, it also shifts expectations. Female drivers are seen as competitors within their own right.
Abbi Pulling, one of the standout drivers of the series, captured this mentality in an interview with Sky Sports:
“If you’re second, you’re the first loser — and that mindset is something I’ve had to carry through everything I’ve done. Being a woman in motorsport doesn’t mean lowering expectations.”
The series was created as a stepping stone.F1 ACADEMY was designed as a platform for progression into higher series, with drivers rotated out every two years to widen the opportunity for a variety of diverse backgrounds to showcase their skills on a worldwide stage.
However, it is not a perfect solution.
The most notable limitation is that it is a separate series. It risks reinforcing the idea that women require a separate space rather than competing directly with men.
Sophia Florsch addressed this complexity in an interview, according to Motorsports.com:
“We don’t need separate categories forever — but right now, we need something that helps women get there.”
Her statement reminds us that F1 ACADEMY is just a temporary solution to a deeper structural issue.
Motorsport remains one of the most expensive sports in the world, with barriers beginning at karting level. Jamie Chadwick, speaking to BBC Sport, reinforced this structural issue:
“The biggest issue has never been ability — it’s always been the pathway and the opportunities available.”
Most importantly, there are still no women on the Formula 1 grid. Progress has been made, but there are still significant barriers that remain.
Is F1 ACADEMY really “changing the game”? Yes, but not in the way you would expect it to.
F1 ACADEMY was never intended to be a quick fix series. It represents a long-term effort to rebuild the system from the ground up.
Susie Wolff, according to Formula1.com, explained her aims for F1 Academy:
“I don’t want to just open the door for women — I want to make sure they can walk through it and succeed.”
It gives a starting point: the series offers a pathway that previously did not exist, to encourage women to succeed.
The question is no longer if a woman will reach Formula 1, but when.
When that moment arrives, it will reflect years of structural change that was already set in motion.
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