Susie Wolff

Susie Wolff is a Scottish former professional racing driver and current Managing Director of the F1 Academy, an all-female driver development series launched by Formula 1. Born Suzanne Stoddart on December 6, 1982, in Oban, Scotland, she began karting at the age of eight and quickly rose through the ranks of motorsport. Wolff competed in various championships, including Formula Renault, Formula Three, and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) with Mercedes-Benz. In 2012, she joined Williams F1 as a development driver, becoming the first woman to participate in a Formula 1 race weekend in over 20 years during the 2014 British Grand Prix at Silverstone .

After retiring from racing in 2015, Wolff transitioned into motorsport management. She served as the Team Principal and later CEO of Venturi Racing in Formula E, leading the team to its most successful season to date. In March 2023, she was appointed Managing Director of the F1 Academy, aiming to develop and prepare young female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition .

Wolff is also a co-founder of Dare to Be Different, an initiative launched in 2016 to inspire and increase the participation of young girls in motorsport. Reflecting on her journey, she has said, "I never let my gender define me, but in my whole driving career, I only ever did one interview not being asked about being a female" . Another of her notable quotes is, "If you are a successful woman, that can inspire the next generation" . Through her work, Wolff continues to break barriers and inspire the next generation of women in motorsport.