Fran Longstaff
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Dr. Fran Longstaff isn’t behind the wheel but she’s revolutionizing women’s racing as F1 Academy’s Head of Research, using psychology and data to build pathways for female drivers.
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One of our team’s most surprising learnings was the importance of community in aiding female driver growth. When you’re treading new ground you would imagine that’s super lonely, and what we found was that the creation of a community… is how you can really accelerate.
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FULL BIO: Fran Longstaff
Dr. Fran Longstaff isn’t tearing up the track herself, but she’s revolutionizing how women get there. As Head of Research for the F1 Academy, this sport and exercise psychologist is using data and community-building to smash the barriers that have kept women out of racing’s top tiers.
EARLY YEARS
The specifics of Fran’s early life remain under wraps—no birth details, family background, or childhood racing fantasies have made it into the public record. What we do know is that she eventually found her way to academia, earning a PhD in sport and exercise psychology and building over 13 years of professional experience in the field.
OTHER INTERESTS
Beyond her groundbreaking work in motorsports psychology, Longstaff keeps her personal interests close to the vest. No hobbies, side hustles, or weekend warrior activities have surfaced in interviews or public appearances.
EARLY SUCCESS
Fran’s path to motorsports didn’t involve karting championships or junior formula victories—because she’s not a racer. Instead, her success story is written in research papers and psychological insights. Her academic credentials in sport and exercise psychology became the foundation for what would become a pioneering role in women’s motorsport development.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2024: Spoke at Everything in Sport event at Wembley Stadium[3].
- 2024: Established partnership between F1 Academy and Manchester Metropolitan University’s Centre for Excellence in Women’s Sport[4].
- 2025: Led groundbreaking research on female driver development, revealing the crucial importance of community support in women’s racing progression[1].
INSPIRATIONS
Longstaff hasn’t publicly shared her personal heroes or racing idols, keeping the focus squarely on her work rather than her influences. Her motivation appears to stem from a drive to advance gender equality in motorsports through rigorous, data-driven research.
REPUTATION
In an industry where gut feelings and tradition often trump hard data, Fran has earned respect for bringing scientific rigor to women’s racing development. Her research has challenged long-held assumptions about female drivers and provided concrete strategies for their advancement. Industry professionals recognize her work as integral to supporting female drivers, and her insights about community-building have already started reshaping how teams and series approach women’s participation. She’s become the go-to expert on the psychological factors that can make or break a woman’s racing career, and her collaboration with academic institutions has added serious scholarly weight to motorsport gender research.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
As Head of Research for F1 Academy, Longstaff continues pushing forward with data-led initiatives to support female drivers. Her goal isn’t to rush women into F1 seats overnight, but to build sustainable pathways that will make female success at motorsport’s highest levels feel inevitable rather than surprising. The research partnerships she’s establishing suggest a long-term commitment to transforming not just individual careers, but the entire culture around women in racing.
References:
Motorsport.com Interview
Instagram Post
Everything in Sport Event Documentation
University Partnership Video
Academic Profile
Have Fran updates or corrections? Please let us know – We’d love to keep this profile current.
