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Susie Wolff is a former professional racing driver turned motorsport executive who blazed a trail through Formula 1 and now leads the charge to open doors for the next generation of female racers as Managing Director of F1 Academy.

EARLY YEARS

Born Suzanne Stoddart on December 6, 1982, in Oban on Scotland’s rugged west coast, Susie grew up with petrol in her veins. Her parents, John and Sally Stoddart, owned a motorcycle dealership in town, and her father was a competitive motorcycle racer himself. Both Susie and her brother David, 18 months her senior, were treated equally—strapped onto skis and bikes as toddlers and given full rein of the stunning, wide-open Scottish landscape surrounding their hometown. That early taste of speed and freedom wasn’t just kid stuff; it was the foundation of everything that followed.

With so much space to explore and a family culture that celebrated motorsport, Susie’s passion for racing ignited early. She started karting at age eight, dreaming of making it to the top of the sport. While other girls her age were doing other things, Susie was chasing lap times and podiums, already showing the grit and determination that would define her career.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the cockpit, Susie studied international business and marketing at Edinburgh’s Business School, proving she had brains to match her racing talent—until she left in 2001 to turn professional. She’s also deeply committed to charitable work, serving as an ambassador for the Wings for Life Foundation, which aims to make spinal cord injuries curable, and supporting the Sean Edwards Foundation, which raises safety awareness in motorsport. In 2015, she became a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, maintaining a close relationship with Mercedes-AMG. And despite being married to a billionaire—Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff—Susie has been vocal about the importance of maintaining financial independence and not relying on a man.

EARLY SUCCESS

By age 18, Susie had been named Top Female Kart Driver in the world—a title that meant everything and nothing all at once. It proved she had talent, but it also underscored the reality that being the best woman wasn’t the same as being seen as the best, period. Still, she refused to be boxed in. In 2001, she made the jump from karts to single-seater racing, competing in Formula Renault. A pivotal moment came in 1996 when she watched Jenson Button win a Formula 3 race. That’s when it clicked: she could actually make a career out of this.

Susie progressed through Formula Renault and then into Formula 3, steadily climbing the ladder in a sport that wasn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat for women. She raced with determination, collecting experience and credibility, even as she faced the usual dismissive comments and skepticism that came with being a woman in motorsport. Each obstacle only made her more determined to win.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2006: Joined the prestigious DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) series with Mücke Motorsport, becoming one of the few women to compete at that level[1].
• 2006–2012: Competed in DTM for seven full seasons with Mücke Motorsport and Persson Motorsport, completing 73 starts and scoring four championship points[2].
• 2010: Scored all four of her DTM points in a single season, finishing 13th in the championship—her best result in the series[3].
• 2012: Appointed as a development driver for the Williams Formula One team, marking her entry into the pinnacle of motorsport[4].
• 2014: Made history as the first woman to participate in a Formula One race weekend in over 20 years, driving the Williams FW36 in practice sessions at the Spanish Grand Prix and British Grand Prix[5].
• 2014: Clocked a 1:29.708 lap time in the first practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix, proving she could handle an F1 car at speed[6].
• 2015: Competed in the Race of Champions in London—her final competitive motorsport appearance before retiring from professional driving[7].
• 2016: Founded Dare To Be Different, a female motorsport initiative aimed at increasing female participation on and off the track[8].
• 2016: Joined Channel 4 in the UK as an analyst for their Formula One coverage[9].
• 2017: Awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours for services to women in sport[10].
• 2018: Appointed Team Principal and shareholder of ROKiT Venturi Racing in Formula E, her first formal move into team management and ownership[11].
• 2018: Promoted to Chief Executive Officer at ROKiT Venturi Racing[12].
• 2019: Partnered Dare To Be Different with the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission to pilot FIA Girls on Track, an educational programme for young female racers[13].
• 2023: Appointed Managing Director of F1 Academy, the all-female driver category designed to develop and prepare young female drivers for higher levels of motorsport[14].

INSPIRATIONS

Watching Jenson Button win that Formula 3 race in 1996 was a turning point. It wasn’t just about seeing good racing—it was about realizing that a career at the highest level was actually possible. Her parents also played a huge role, treating her and her brother equally and never suggesting that racing wasn’t for girls. That equal footing gave Susie the confidence to chase her dream without apology. And her father’s own experience as a competitive motorcycle racer meant she grew up understanding what it took to compete—and win.

REPUTATION

Susie Wolff is widely respected as one of the most influential women in motorsport—not just for what she achieved on track, but for what she’s building off it. Her time in F1 was groundbreaking, and her work with Dare To Be Different and F1 Academy has cemented her reputation as someone who doesn’t just talk about change—she drives it. She’s been called inspiring, determined, and unafraid to speak out against sexism and inequality in the sport. In 2023, when unfounded allegations surfaced suggesting conflicts of interest related to her marriage to Toto Wolff, Susie fired back, calling the claims “deeply misogynistic” and refusing to let her professional credibility be undermined by her marital status. She’s not here to play nice; she’s here to win—and to make sure the women coming up behind her have a real shot at winning, too.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As Managing Director of F1 Academy, Susie is laser-focused on building momentum and expanding the series. The 2026 calendar has already been announced, reflecting the growing visibility and credibility of the championship. All ten F1 teams have committed to multi-year agreements to sponsor a livery and driver, with Cadillac set to join from 2027. Susie has made it clear: “We had one shot to get it right,” and she’s determined to ensure F1 Academy continues to progress, makes the right decisions, and provides a genuine pathway for female drivers to reach the highest levels of motorsport. She’s not just shaping the future of the sport—she’s rewriting the playbook.

REFERENCES

[1] Susie Wolff – Keynote Speaker, London Speaker Bureau
[2] Susie Wolff: F1 Career, Venturi Racing & Leadership Role, GPblog
[3] Susie Wolff: F1 Career, Venturi Racing & Leadership Role, GPblog
[4] Susie Wolff, Wikipedia
[5] Susie Wolff | Speaker Agency, Speaking Fee, Videos, Speaking.com
[6] Susie Wolff, Wikipedia
[7] ROC London 2015 – Susie Wolff’s last race, YouTube
[8] FIA Girls on Track, susie-wolff.com
[9] Susie Wolff, Wikipedia
[10] From F1 outings to a royal honour – The career highlights of Susie Wolff, Formula1.com
[11] Biography, susie-wolff.com
[12] Susie Wolff becomes ROKiT Venturi Racing CEO in management restructure, FIA Formula E
[13] FIA Girls on Track, susie-wolff.com
[14] Biography, susie-wolff.com