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A new dose of feminist empowerment is hitting Netflix, filling us in on the plight of a group of amazing female F1 drivers – members of the F1 Academy.
So what is the F1 Academy? It has been described as “a starting ground for young women in motorsport, built to help them grow their skills and move up the ranks — from Formula 4 to Formula 3, and maybe even all the way to F1”. Super, super exciting when it comes to female representation in male-dominated sports.
The documentary will be produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, so you just know it will have women's stories at the absolute forefront.
For leader, former professional driver and managing director of F1 Academy Susie Wolff, it's all about shining a light on the female talent and voices in this particular sport.
“We want to be the rocket fuel that drives female participation in our sport, both on and off the track,” she said in 2024 when the documentary was announced. "To have the F1 Academy docuseries launch globally with Netflix is not just a huge step forward in visibility for our mission, but also a resounding statement about the momentum and demand for women’s sport.
“We want to inspire and empower the next generation of young women. Netflix will open up F1 Academy to a global audience of existing and future fans.”
Here's what we know about Netflix's F1: The Academy.
What is F1: The Academy about?
The synopsis for this exciting new series reads as follows: "This adrenaline-fuelled docuseries, from Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, follows female drivers as they battle it out in the 2024 F1 Academy racing series. Through exclusive, behind-the-scenes access, F1: The Academy highlights the drama of the races, as well as the personal stories and high stakes for these incredible drivers and the teams around them, as they break barriers in one of the most demanding sports in the world. For F1 Academy’s leader and managing director, Susie Wolff, the pressure has never felt more real.
“The future of women in motorsport is at stake. As Susie spearheads this new operation, her extensive experience behind the wheel of F1 cars allows her to connect with the drivers on a deep and personal level, whilst understanding the pressure that each one of the drivers face to succeed.”
According to the episode info that has been released, we will see the team take on challenges in Miami, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
Who is in F1: The Academy?
At the centre of the docuseries is Susie, of course, along with the fifteen female drivers in the team as they battle it out to be the best. We'll see highs and lows, drama and get to know the personal stories of each driver as well as the teams that support them everyday.
F1: The Academy release date
All seven episodes of F1: The Academy will drop on Netflix on 28 May.
F1: The Academy trailerW
Watch below for a taster of one of the drivers' stories.
