Susie Wolff, present managing director of the F1 Academy, was born with a ardour for motorsport. “I believe it’s at all times been in my DNA,” she stated in an extended chat with Gunther Steiner on *The Crimson Flag Podcast* on YouTube.
Talking about her childhood, spent in karting from a younger age, “If I wished to experience a motorbike, I simply did it,” Toto’s spouse mentioned at size her position within the F1 Academy and the duties it entails.
“I wish to break these preconceptions that motorsport is only for boys or that in the event you’re a lady and like motorsport, you must 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 must be only for males,” she defined.
Why is it so tough for a lady to succeed in Components 1? In accordance with 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 girl. I’ve realized that efficiency issues. Everybody can have an opinion, there’ll at all times be those that assist you and those that oppose you. However in the event you actually go on monitor and do your finest, it doesn’t matter in the event you’re a lady or a boy. It doesn’t matter what the newspapers say as a result of efficiency is what counts. I’ve at all times targeted on that. However racing additionally entails monetary limitations since you want sponsors to assist you. That’s why it turns into very tough and demanding.”
Will the F1 Academy have the possibility to draw a bigger viewers because of the Netflix docuseries popping out subsequent yr? “I really feel privileged to steer the F1 Academy as a result of I’ve carried out the identical factor these women are doing. I do know what the difficulties are, I understand how exhausting 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 automobile? 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 angle of being a girl on this sport.”
In accordance with Susie Wolff, the most important problem is firmly believing within the F1 Academy venture and the alternatives it might probably present to aspiring feminine drivers. “I consider that if we do properly, this class can have a big impact on the game. It received’t occur in a single day that we’ll have a girl on the Components 1 grid,” she admitted.
Nevertheless, if there’s extra collective participation, as is already occurring with Components 1 groups supporting 10 women from the class, there shall be better visibility.
“There are gifted 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 limitations 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 believe that if I don’t face this problem, if I don’t push the F1 Academy in the suitable route, who will?”
Susie Wolff additionally revealed that Ferrari was the primary F1 crew to get onboard with the F1 Academy:
🚨| Susie Wolff reveals Ferrari was the primary F1 crew to get onboard with F1 Academy :
“…i bought Ferrari onboard – they had been the primary…”
📹 snippet from @TheRedFlags_Pod | #F1 pic.twitter.com/ufPiObcZpa
— sim (@sim3744) October 4, 2024
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