Susie Wolff is one of the trailblazing females in motorsport and one of the most influential women in the modern era of racing. Though now known as the managing director of the F1 Academy—a role shaping the future of women in motorsport—Wolff’s journey to F1 began behind the wheel.
| Nationality | British |
|---|---|
| Born | Suzanne Wolff (née Stoddart) 6 December 1982 Oban, Scotland |
Her racing career started in the classic proving ground of karting, where she was quickly seen as a rising talent, even racing alongside seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. From there, Wolff rose through the single-seater ranks: first Formula Renault, then British Formula 3—two competitive series known for stepping stones to a future F1 seat.
In 2006, Wolff moved to Germany’s touring car series, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), racing for Mercedes. Over seven seasons in DTM, she gained a reputation for racing qualities that would define her next big move.
In 2012, Susie made headlines when she joined the Williams Formula One Team as a development driver, becoming one of the few women in modern times to land a role with an F1 outfit. Her historic moment came at the 2014 British Grand Prix, when she became the first woman in 22 years to participate in an F1 race weekend, taking part in Friday practice at Silverstone.
Wolff retired from professional racing in 2015 after a final appearance at the Race of Champions, but she wasn’t done with motorsport. In 2016, she joined Channel 4’s Formula One coverage in the UK, offering expert analysis with the same clarity and drive she showed on the track.
Then came another high-profile chapter: Venturi Racing in Formula E. Wolff joined as Team Principal in 2018, and by 2021, she was promoted to CEO. Under her leadership, Venturi enjoyed a boost in performance and professionalism, and she became a respected figure in the electric racing series. After Season 8 wrapped up in South Korea in 2022, she announced her departure from Venturi and Formula E.
Now at the head of the F1 Academy, Wolff is helping to cultivate the next generation of female racing talent. From karting prodigy to F1 pioneer, team leader, and now mentor, Susie Wolff’s journey is as inspiring as it is significant. She may have hung up her helmet, but Susie Wolff is still changing motorsports for women.
Formula One History Recommends
Susie Wolff in Formula One
Williams F1 Team: 2012–2015
In April 2012, Susie Wolff made a significant leap into Formula One when Williams signed her as a development driver. It was a landmark moment—not just for her, but for women in motorsport. With Williams, a team steeped in F1 history and world championships, Wolff took her place in the rarefied world of Grand Prix racing.
Fast-forward to 2014, and Wolff was preparing to make even more history. Williams announced she would be taking part in two free practice sessions—at the 2014 British and German Grands Prix. At Silverstone, the home of British motorsport, she became the first woman to take part in an F1 race weekend since 1992. The last to do so had been Giovanna Amati—who unfortunately never made it past qualifying.
Sadly, Wolff’s big Silverstone moment was cut short. After just one timed lap, her car suffered an engine issue. It was a frustrating twist in an otherwise historic day.
But redemption came swiftly. At Hockenheim, during the 2014 German Grand Prix weekend, Wolff returned to the cockpit. After a shaky start with more mechanical gremlins, she finally got the laps she needed—and delivered a strong performance, finishing 15th out of 22. Impressively, she was just two-tenths of a second behind her far more experienced teammate, Felipe Massa.
Encouraged by her performance, Williams extended her role for the 2015 season, upgrading her to official test driver. Her schedule included two more Friday practice sessions and two in-season test outings. In Barcelona, she set a solid time during pre-season testing, and in Silverstone, she placed 13th out of 20 in practice.
But by the end of 2015, Wolff made the tough call to step away from F1. In a heartfelt interview with the BBC, she said she felt she’d taken her F1 journey as far as she could. However, she wasn’t stepping away from the sport entirely. She pledged to support and empower more women in racing, vowing to make sure her story wasn’t the last of its kind.
Before fully hanging up her helmet, Wolff made one last competitive appearance at the 2015 Race of Champions, pairing up with fellow Scot and F1 veteran David Coulthard. It was a fitting swansong to a career defined by barriers broken and doors opened.
Mercedes-AMG & Ambassadorship: 2016
In 2016, Wolff joined Mercedes-AMG as a brand ambassador. No longer in the racing seat, but still close to the heart of elite motorsport, she was even one of the first to test drive the highly anticipated Mercedes-AMG One—a road car with F1 DNA. Her involvement with Mercedes kept her firmly connected to the sport.
F1 Academy: 2023
In March 2023, Susie Wolff was appointed managing director of the F1 Academy, an all-female single-seater racing series launched by Formula One. The aim? To develop and nurture the careers of young women in motorsport, giving them a proper platform to rise through the ranks.
For Wolff, it was the perfect full-circle moment. From being the only woman on the grid to leading a movement for more, she is now shaping the future of racing for generations to come.
Susie Wolff Formula One World Championship Test Driver career
| F1 Test Driver Career | 2014-2015 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Williams |
| Apperances | 4 (0 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 2014 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2015 British Grand Prix |
Formula One Record
| Year | Entrant | Team | WDC Points | WDC Pos. | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Williams F1 | Williams-Renault | Development Driver | ||
| 2013 | Williams F1 | Williams-Renault | Development Driver | ||
| 2014 | Williams F1 | Williams-Mercedes | Development Driver | ||
| 2015 | Williams F1 | Williams-Mercedes | Test Driver | ||
Complete Formula One World Championship results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Williams Martini Racing | Williams FW36 | Mercedes PU106A Hybrid 1.6 V6 t | AUS | MAL | BHR | CHN | ESP | MON | CAN | AUT | GBR TD | GER TD | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | RUS | USA | BRA | ABU | – | – |
| 2015 | Williams Martini Racing | Williams FW37 | Mercedes PU106B Hybrid 1.6 V6 t | AUS | MAL | CHN | BHR | ESP TD | MON | CAN | AUT | GBR TD | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | RUS | USA | MEX | BRA | ABU | – | – |
