Susie Wolff, present managing director of the F1 Academy, was born with a ardour for motorsport. “I feel it’s all the time been in my DNA,” she stated in an extended chat with Gunther Steiner on *The Pink Flag Podcast* on YouTube.
Talking about her childhood, spent in karting from a younger age, “If I needed to experience a bike, I simply did it,” Toto’s spouse mentioned at size her position within the F1 Academy and the duties it entails.
“I need to break these preconceptions that motorsport is only for boys or that in case you’re a woman and like motorsport, it’s a must to be a tomboy. I hope to interrupt down these prejudices as a result of these days there are such a lot of girls who comply with this sport, and it doesn’t need to be only for males,” she defined.
Why is it so troublesome for a girl to succeed in Method 1? Based on Susie Wolff, the most important problem lies within the lack of position fashions to look as much as.
“On this sport, we put on a helmet, so that you don’t know who’s beneath – whether or not a person or a lady. I’ve realized that efficiency issues. Everybody can have an opinion, there’ll all the time be those that assist you and those that oppose you. However in case you actually go on observe and do your greatest, it doesn’t matter in case you’re a woman or a boy. It doesn’t matter what the newspapers say as a result of efficiency is what counts. I’ve all the time targeted on that. However racing additionally entails monetary boundaries since you want sponsors to assist you. That’s why it turns into very troublesome and demanding.”
Will the F1 Academy have the prospect to draw a bigger viewers due to the Netflix docuseries popping out subsequent 12 months? “I really feel privileged to steer the F1 Academy as a result of I’ve achieved the identical factor these ladies are doing. I do know what the difficulties are, I understand how onerous it’s, and that’s why I relate to them a lot. There are individuals on this discipline who attempt to inform me what to do, and I maintain again from responding: Initially, have you ever ever pushed a automotive? No. Second, are you girls? No. So don’t inform me that’s how issues are, since you don’t know. You don’t have the attitude of being a lady on this sport.”
Based on Susie Wolff, the most important problem is firmly believing within the F1 Academy venture and the alternatives it could possibly present to aspiring feminine drivers. “I consider that if we do nicely, this class can have a huge effect on the game. It received’t occur in a single day that we’ll have a lady on the Method 1 grid,” she admitted.
Nevertheless, if there’s extra collective participation, as is already taking place with Method 1 groups supporting 10 ladies from the class, there shall be better visibility.
“There are proficient girls on this sport, even when we don’t typically see them, however we handle to note them. And it’s essential to point out the world on the market that there are alternatives for them. That’s what our present on Netflix can do: break down boundaries and the notion that it’s only a male-dominated trade. The F1 Academy exists as a result of the game has created alternatives.”
Has Susie Wolff ever considered giving up? “There are days once I take into consideration how robust it’s. Then I feel that if I don’t face this problem, if I don’t push the F1 Academy in the best path, who will?”
Susie Wolff additionally revealed that Ferrari was the primary F1 group to get onboard with the F1 Academy:
🚨| Susie Wolff reveals Ferrari was the primary F1 group to get onboard with F1 Academy :
“…i acquired Ferrari onboard – they have been the primary…”
📹 snippet from @TheRedFlags_Pod | #F1 pic.twitter.com/ufPiObcZpa
— sim (@sim3744) October 4, 2024
Supply: f1ingenerale