\nEditor's Choice<\/h2>\n 2 Related<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n
“We see that the sport enjoys incredible global popularity, and the fastest growing fan demographic is young women. I am very aware that not every young girl who watches F1 wants to become a driver, mechanic or journalist, but we can show that this sport puts a strain on diversity.<\/p>\n
\u201cSport wants to make a call to action to make sure that it's not a chauvinistic, male-dominated world that I think people probably still have that preconceived notion in the past .”<\/p>\n
In Wolff's eyes, the connection with F1 teams helped legitimize the broader goals of the F1 Academy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't want this to be seen as a women's issue, run by women, I wanted the decision-makers in this sport to play a role in it,\u201d she said. “But at the same time, it is not based on goodwill, because it is trendy to support women's sport. We need to build a long-term sustainable model.”<\/p>\n
The F1 Academy hopes to provide a launching pad for young drivers, not only up to F1, but across the racing pyramid. Last year's champion, Marta Garc\u00eda, will compete in this season's Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA), having landed a fully funded seat at Prema.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not a destination where young drivers can stay and race,\u201d Wolff continued. \u201cWe are here to provide a platform to nurture them and give them fuel to progress further in the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe in providing a huge opportunity to contribute to progression and ensure the talent pool grows. [with women] and that talented women find their place in this sport. \u00bb<\/p>\n
While the F1 Academy hopes to one day find the next Lombardi, the series will not live and die by his ability to do so.<\/p>\n
Connections beyond F1<\/h2>\n The benefits for F1 Academy drivers were no more evident before this week's Saudi Grand Prix, when Lewis Hamilton was asked about French driver Doriane Pin, who is racing with Mercedes support this year.<\/p>\n\nLISTEN TO 'UNLAPPED'<\/h2>\n Katie George, Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson get to know Formula 1 and the personalities behind it on 'Unlapped,' ESPN's weekly F1 podcast. Listen to \u201cUnlapped\u201d<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n
\u201cYes, I just saw her,\u201d said the seven-time world champion, before congratulating Wolff, who is married to his F1 team boss Toto. “I just spent some time with her earlier in the garage. To see the teams and the sporting races here… there's still a huge amount to do, but the work that Susie is doing with the F1 Academy, I I'm really, really proud of her.”<\/p>\n
F1 Academy drivers are also closely aligned with five Formula 2 and Formula 3 teams in an effort to facilitate access to these starting categories.<\/p>\n
The ART team with which Hamilton and Mercedes teammate George Russell won the junior titles is led by McLaren's Bianca Bustamante and Lia Block, supported by Williams, daughter of the late rally driver Ken. 2022 F2 title winners MP Motorsport will run Al Qubaisi's sisters Hamda and Amna, supported by Red Bull's two F1 teams.<\/p>\n
Prema, who won power series titles with Charles Leclerc, Mick Schumacher and Oscar Piastri, will drive Mercedes' Pin and Ferrari's Maya Weug. Campos will lead Haas-backed American driver Chloe Chambers, while Alpine's Abbi Pulling is part of the Rodin Carlin team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are incredibly fortunate to have five of the best junior teams,\u201d Wolff said. \u201cThese teams know how to train well-rounded racing drivers and help them develop.<\/p>\n
“We will always analyze the natural next step with the drivers; I'm not sure it will always be F3, sometimes it will be FRECA. But it's also about having the right progression and knowing what is good for may our winner progress.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n