Racer turned Team Principal Susie Wolff has been announced as the Managing Director for the inaugural Formula One Academy season.
Susie Wolff, ex-Team Principal of Venturi Racing in Formula E (now Maserati), has been announced as the first-ever Managing Director for the 2023 F1 Academy season. The forty-old Scot is married to Mercedes’ Team Principal Toto Wolff.
Who is Susie Wolff?
Wolff began her racing career at age eight in karting. She won the Scottish Junior and the 24hr Middle Eastern Championship the following year. Wolff made her full-time single-seater debut in 2002 in the Formula Renault UK series. Wolff continued in that series through the 2004 season where she finished fifth in the standings with one podium. The following year she raced in the British Formula 3 Championship for two races, finishing on the podium once – alongside future Mercedes World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
After spending six seasons in DTM, Wolff became a development and test driver for the Williams F1 team. She ran in two practice sessions during the 2014 season, becoming the first woman to race in F1 since 1992. In 2015, she announced her retirement from F1 and racing.
In 2018, Wolff became the Team Principal and shareholder of the Formula E team Venturi Racing. Under Wolff’s management, the team delivered its most successful season to date in 2020, finishing second in the Drivers Championship (Edoardo Mortara) and seventh in the Teams. Wolff was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in November 2021 and announced her plans to leave Venturi in August 2022 as the team was sold to Maserati.
The next chapter begins as I join @f1academy as Managing Director.
This is an opportunity to promote genuine change in our industry by creating the best possible structure to find and nurture female talent on their journey to the elite levels of motorsport, on and off track. pic.twitter.com/7BQCz5Uo0L
— Susie Wolff (@Susie_Wolff) March 1, 2023
Following the announcement, Wolff stated:
“This is also the start of an important new chapter in my career, combining the experience I have developed so far with my passion for diversity and empowerment, so I would like to thank Stefano for entrusting me with a role that means as much to me personally as it does professionally.”
Bruno Michel (General Manager of F1 Academy) added:
“It is fantastic news that Susie Wolff is joining the F1 Academy as Managing Director. Susie is an incredible person who understands what it takes to reach the highest levels of motorsport, both as a driver and Team Principal.”
Wolff has shown she is capable of success as a racer and a team manager. She appears to be a wonderful fit for the start of this new F1 development series.
