The high-speed world of motorsports is at the center of “F1: The Academy,” a gripping new Netflix docuseries out now that follows young female drivers jockeying for a place on the road to Formula 1®.
Earlier this month, American Express hosted an exclusive U.S. premiere event in Miami Beach to kick off the F1 ACADEMY™ race weekend. Card Members could purchase tickets to the event, which included a screening of the first episode, a panel discussion and a special performance by Young Miko.
The new docuseries marks an important milestone, showcasing F1 ACADEMY™’s barrier-breaking mission on a global stage. Wolff, once a test driver herself, said they’re just getting started.
“Our wider mission is showing that there’s a place for women in our sport, on and off the track,” Wolff said. “We have a huge female fan base now in Formula 1, and they should all see that the sport they love is doing something for female talent.” It’s important for brands to get involved in “highlighting the power of women in sports,” Rutledge added. “It’s great to see a lot of brands helping to drive that momentum.”
The Netflix docuseries was produced by Hello Sunshine in partnership with F1 ACADEMY™, an all-female racing series launched by Formula 1® to train female drivers with the goal of increasing female participation in motorsport, both on and off the grid.
“They’re resilient. They’re young. They’re missing prom.” That’s how Rea described the series’ female drivers. Wolff hopes their experience boosts their tenacity: “I tell them at the beginning of every season, ‘There’s only ever going to be one winner. That’s how brutal any sport is, and only one of you is going to win. So those of you who are not winning need to figure out: how can you come back even stronger?’”
Since launching in 2023, F1 ACADEMY™ has aimed to open doors for young women interested in all aspects of motorsport, from fans and aspiring drivers to would-be pit crew and corporate leaders. American Express is an official partner of the racing series as part of the company’s commitment to supporting the next generation of women athletes.
The docuseries shows the world of racing beyond luxury fashion house sponsorships and multimillion-dollar watch deals. “Motorsport is seen as very glamorous and very jaded,” Wolff said. “But the truth is that those drivers have to work incredibly hard, and it is very tough.”
Former racer and TV presenter Naomi Schiff moderated the post-screening panel, in which Elizabeth Rutledge, Chief Marketing Officer, American Express; Susie Wolff, Managing Director, F1 ACADEMY™; and Sara Rea, Head of Unscripted Content, Hello Sunshine, spoke about the upcoming series. While its goal is to reach beyond the existing F1 fanbase, the stories shown in “F1: The Academy” are also meant to serve as inspiration for up-and-coming drivers. “I hope it motivates many young girls around the world to get behind the wheel,” Rea said. “I believe that if you can see it, you can be it.”
Rutledge pointed out that local communities around the world are an important part of the sport. For instance, F1 ACADEMY™ driver and Amex ambassador Nicole Havrda’s car bears not only the American Express brand, but also the logo of a female owned small business based wherever her current race is happening. “The incredible partnership between F1 ACADEMY™ and small businesses, that’s such a part of American Express’s DNA,” Rutledge said. “It’s all about that power of entrepreneurship, of loving the craft that you have passion for.”
For Rutledge, there was a personal connection: When she was a young athlete, she didn’t see a path forward as a woman in professional sports. “I had no role models at the time,” she said. “That’s what I think is so exciting — the women who are role models, the pathways that are there now, and the momentum, too.”
Photo/F1Academy/X
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