F1 Academy, the single-seater class for female racing talent, follows in the footsteps of Formula 1. At the end of May, the new documentary F1: The Academy will premiere on Netflix. This seven-part series follows the drivers throughout the 2024 season and was produced by the studio of Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon. The successful counterpart to Formula 1, Drive to Survive, has brought many new fans to the sport in recent years.
Starting May 28, F1: The Academy will be available worldwide on the streaming platform Netflix. The docuseries follows the female drivers of the F1 Academy during the 2024 season, as they competed against each other in seven rounds. According to an official press release, the series uses the successful formula of Drive to Survive and the many sports documentaries that followed it: exclusive behind-the-scenes access, highlighting the drama of the races as well as the personal stories of the various drivers.
Opportunities for female racing talent
F1 Academy is an initiative of Formula 1 and the successor to what was once the W Series. The racing class was established in 2023. The goal is for all ten Formula 1 teams to support a driver, thereby creating more opportunities for the best female racers. Susie Wolff, partner of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, has been the director of the F1 Academy since March 1, 2023. She also served as a producer for the Netflix series. Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon is the executive producer of the documentary through her own studio, Hello Sunshine.
In 2024, two Dutch drivers took part in the F1 Academy full-time. Twenty-year-old Maya Heug raced for PREMA Racing with support from Ferrari, while 22-year-old Emely de Heus drove for MP Motorsport with backing from Red Bull. Twenty-one-year-old Nina Gademan participated in four races as a wildcard. For the 2025 season, she has secured a permanent spot on the grid with support from Alpine.
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