SUSIE WOLFF Reveals Mercedes Marketing Outrage Over Name Change After Marriage

October 14, 2025

• SUSIE WOLFF dropped a perfect example of how marketing departments still think about women in 2024 – when she told Mercedes she was changing her name from Stoddart after marrying Toto in 2011, their response was literally “you can’t change your name, you’re the strong woman.” Her comeback? “I’m not on my own anymore, I’m a Wolff. I’ve got someone on my side who’s part of my team.” Because apparently having support makes you less of a strong woman in their minds.
• Let’s talk about what WOLFF actually accomplished on track, since that’s what should matter. She became the first woman to compete in an official F1 timed session in 22 years at the 2014 British Grand Prix, then backed it up with solid performances including finishing just 0.227 seconds behind teammate Felipe Massa in German GP practice. Her 2015 British GP session saw her finish 13th out of 20 cars at Silverstone – legitimate pace that spoke for itself.
• Since retiring in 2015, WOLFF has been building the infrastructure that should have existed decades ago. She founded Dare to Be Different in 2016 to bring more women into motorsport, and now runs F1 Academy as managing director – the all-female series giving drivers the single-seater opportunities they need. We’re watching someone who broke barriers now systematically removing them for the next generation, which is exactly the kind of legacy that matters.

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