SUSIE WOLFF’s F1 Academy Gets Backing From Hamilton, Russell & Norris

June 16, 2025

• SUSIE WOLFF’s F1 Academy is proving that when you build proper infrastructure, female talent flourishes. The all-female series, launched in 2023 from the ashes of W-Series, removes the financial barriers that have historically blocked women from motorsport progression. Unlike the grassroots level where funding determines fate, F1 Academy provides a clear pathway supported by F1 teams themselves.
• The series has earned genuine respect from F1’s biggest names, with Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Lando Norris actively supporting the initiative. WOLFF credits Hamilton as “a big advocate from the very beginning” who understands diversity isn’t just talk, while Russell and Norris regularly visit the F1 Academy paddock. This isn’t performative allyship—these drivers recognize what we’ve been saying: the talent was always there, just blocked by systemic barriers.
• WOLFF herself knows exactly what today’s drivers are facing, having pursued F1 dreams in an era with even fewer opportunities. She managed free practice sessions with Williams a decade ago but couldn’t break through to a race seat. Rather than dwelling on what might have been, she’s channeling that experience into creating what she wished existed: “I feel a certain pride in having made it possible for the next generation.” Meanwhile, DORIANE PIN leads the current championship with three weekends remaining.

all-female f1 academy, deb williams, formula 1, mercedes