F1 Academy to Expand, Driven by Netflix Series Success & Growing โคFemale Fanbase
LONDON, โขUK – Susie Wolff, Managing Director ofโค the F1 Academy, โoutlined future plans for the all-female racing series following the releaseโข of its inaugural Netflix docuseries, F1: The Academy, adn a surge in interest fueled by increased visibility. The series, wich debuted on Netflix in May 2025, โฃis already โproving instrumental in challenging perceptions of motorsport and attracting a broader audience.
Theโ F1 โขAcademy was established to identify, develop, and promote young โfemale drivers, providing a pathway to higher formulas of racing, including Formula 1.โ Wolff emphasized theโ importance of recognizing and engaging the sport’s substantial female fanbase, stating, “The sport has recognised โthat it has a huge female fan base and โwe need to make sure that we respect and speak โto that fan base โand โฃmakeโ sure โthat we also โreach new audiences and thruโข F1 Academy we canโฃ disrupt, we can do things differently.” the series aims to dismantle outdated preconceptions about whoโค racing is โขfor and create opportunities for talented female drivers.
Inspired by the success of Drive to Survive โin boosting โFormula 1’s popularity, particularly in the United States, F1: The Academy showcases the drivers’ journeys and theโค challenges they face. Wolff highlighted the impact โขof โคthe Netflix series, explaining, “Sometimes in life you have to see it โto believe it, and there is this outdated preconceptionโ that men love cars and racing โis for boys, not โฃfor girls.” She added, “To switch on a series and seeโ a young girl zipping up a Ferrari โฃrace suit and jumping in what โlooks like a miniature Ferrariโ Formula 1 car, that image alone just challenges the perceptions of what belongs in the โsport.”
The F1 Academy’s next steps will focus on building on this momentum, โexpanding the series’ โreach, and continuing to provide a competitive and supportive surroundings for aspiring female racing drivers. Further details regarding future seasons and potential expansion โคplans areโ expected to be announcedโ in the coming months.
