Women in motorsport don’t seem like a shock in modern times. In fact, people would like to see women racing wheel-to-wheel with men. Yet, there is a void of women racers, especially in F1. Well, there was a time when a feisty racer named Susie Wolff, who is also Toto Wolff’s wife, was awaiting her chance in the pinnacle of motorsport.
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Susie Wolff nee Stoddart was a development driver with Williams from 2012-2015. Susie had competed in Formula Renault and British F3 and thus had single-seater experience. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes that his wife deserved a shot in F1 back then with Williams.
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Although the Grove-based outfit did not give her the chance, despite running her in FP1 sessions over the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Mercedes team principle Toto Wolff during day one of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain. Picture date: Wednesday February 23, 2022. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
Toto Wolff stated that his better half has the potential to get a full-time drive for Williams. As per GPBlog.com, in an interview with the Financial Times, Toto said, “She was within a few tenths of Felipe Massa.”
The Austrian further stated that Williams never dared to take a punt on Susie. He said, “The final chance was denied [by Williams].” Susie eventually stayed as a development driver with the British outfit for 2015 and then retired from racing.
The Williams story is truly inspirational. At the age of 12, I did my class project on Williams, and I still have it to this day. Little did I know 20yrs later I’d be representing them on track at the British GP, with my husband having started his F1 journey with the team. [1/2] pic.twitter.com/VK9TZQajn9
— Susie Wolff (@Susie_Wolff) September 6, 2020
She followed in her husband’s footsteps to become the team principal and CEO of the Venturi Formula E team from Monaco. As she is now retired from the role of team principal and CEO, her net worth is reportedly over $1 million.
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Yet, people might wonder what it could have been if Williams could have given Susie a chance for at least a season.
Can women drivers break the glass ceiling in F1?
Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone always wanted to have a woman driver in F1. Prominent IndyCar talents like Danica Patrick were touted as potential candidates, but it never materialized into reality.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 21: Danica Patrick talks with Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the Paddock during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 21, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Back around 2008 to 2012, there were several whispers of IndyCar winner Danica Patrick to make way into F1. Having won an IndyCar race in Motegi, Japan, Patrick is one of the most successful women in motorsports. Back in the day, she was the talk of the town as the next woman F1 driver.
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Although Danica herself clarified that there was no potential F1 opportunity developing for her. Besides Patrick, Sarah Fisher is another IndyCar star who never got a ticket to F1.
Watch This Story: 5 insane facts you never knew about Danica Patrick
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Currently, Jamie Chadwick is following Susie Wolff’s steps as a development driver with Williams. Although, Chadwick has won the W series championship 3 times in 2019, 2021, and 2022. With 11 wins and 18 podiums, the 24-year-old keeps her hope to compete in F1 one day.
What do you think? Can women drivers break onto the F1 grid? And how soon can we see the same?
Did you miss our previous article...
https://formulaone.news/mercedes/nico-rosberg-gives-clear-no-to-f1-job-after-lewis-hamilton-defeat-f1-sports
