73. Susie Wolff

Susie Wolff, Managing Director of the F1 Academy, has spent more than two decades breaking barriers in motorsport. Her journey began where many great drivers start — on the karting track. From there, she climbed the competitive ladder, racing in Formula Renault and the DTM series for Mercedes-Benz, before making motorsport history.

In 2014, Susie became the first woman in 22 years to participate in a Formula 1 race weekend, driving for Williams during practice at the British Grand Prix. Her presence on the F1 stage was a powerful moment for representation in a sport long dominated by men.

After retiring from racing in 2015, Susie didn’t leave the track behind. Instead, she turned her attention to creating opportunities for others. In 2016, she launched Dare To Be Different, a grassroots initiative designed to inspire and support young girls and women across all areas of motorsport — from engineering to media, and of course, driving.

Her efforts were officially recognized in 2017, when she was awarded an MBE for her contribution to women in sport.

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Susie then stepped into a leadership role, becoming Team Principal and shareholder of ROKiT Venturi Racing in Formula E in 2018. She later became CEO, helping guide the team to its most successful season ever in 2022, before stepping away from the electric series.

On March 1, 2023, Susie embraced a new challenge as the Managing Director of the F1 Academy — an all-female racing series launched by Formula 1. The F1 Academy is dedicated to preparing talented young female drivers for higher levels of competition, with the ultimate goal of helping women break into Formula 3, Formula 2, and eventually Formula 1 itself.

Wolff’s leadership marks a vital turning point in the sport’s evolution. As F1 increasingly embraces diversity and inclusion, the F1 Academy — under her guidance — is poised to become a key pipeline for female talent aiming to take their place on the Formula 1 grid.