Susie Wolff, present managing director of the F1 Academy, was born with a ardour for motorsport. “I feel it’s at all times been in my DNA,” she mentioned in a protracted 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 journey a bike, I simply did it,” Toto’s spouse mentioned at size her position within the F1 Academy and the tasks it entails.
“I wish 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 ladies who comply with this sport, and it doesn’t need to be only for males,” she defined.
Why is it so troublesome for a lady to succeed in System 1? In keeping with Susie Wolff, the largest 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 discovered that efficiency issues. Everybody can have an opinion, there’ll at all times be those that help you and people who 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 at all times targeted on that. However racing additionally includes monetary limitations since you want sponsors to help you. That’s why it turns into very troublesome and demanding.”
Will the F1 Academy have the possibility to draw a bigger viewers due to the Netflix docuseries popping out subsequent yr? “I really feel privileged to guide 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 onerous it’s, and that’s why I relate to them a lot. There are folks on this area who attempt to inform me what to do, and I maintain again from responding: To start with, have you ever ever pushed a automobile? No. Second, are you ladies? 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 girl on this sport.”
In keeping with Susie Wolff, the largest problem is firmly believing within the F1 Academy undertaking and the alternatives it may possibly present to aspiring feminine drivers. “I imagine 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 girl on the System 1 grid,” she admitted.
Nevertheless, if there’s extra collective participation, as is already occurring with System 1 groups supporting 10 women from the class, there might be higher visibility.
“There are gifted ladies on this sport, even when we don’t typically see them, however we handle to note them. And it’s vital to indicate 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 feel that if I don’t face this problem, if I don’t push the F1 Academy in the precise course, 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 obtained Ferrari onboard – they have been the primary…”
📹 snippet from @TheRedFlags_Pod | #F1 pic.twitter.com/ufPiObcZpa
— sim (@sim3744) October 4, 2024
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