Susie Wolff: A factfile on the woman who is making waves in F1

Susie Wolff – the woman of the moment in F1

We are only weeks now from the beginning of a promising new season in Formula 1. The men are hard at work fine-tuning their tools and testing their skills. But even as they seek to figure out the new mathematics surrounding their ever-evolving sport, it is a woman that is making all the waves.

Susie Wolff, the Scottish racing driver, has earned herself a couple of weekend rides this season after a creditable appearance at a Silverstone test in July last year. The development driver with the Williams team has been confirmed for an in-season testing ride and for the first practice sessions ahead of the British and German Grands Prix races.

“It’s an incredible opportunity they have given me and it’s one I am going to grab with both hands,” said Wolff. “It’s a tough environment, but I had the solid Silverstone test behind me, which has shown people a little bit more of what I am capable. Each step of the way, I proved myself, did a good job, gave the team what they needed in terms of feedback and that then led to more opportunity within the team,” she concluded.

In this feature we give you a few facts about the lady who is surfing the tide of attention, and other similar incidents in F1 history that have preceded this radical move:

- Wolff came through the ranks, gaining valuable experience from her days as a German touring car driver. She drove in the DTM series for six years before being signed up by Williams in 2012.

- The 31-year-old is married to Toto Wolff, once a shareholder director with Williams. Toto still owns 16% of the Williams F1 team and had to recuse himself in 2012, when the board was considering whether they ought to sign Susie to the team.

- In early 2013, Toto made an exit from Williams to take up stake in Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team, where he reportedly owns 30% shares. He is serving the team currently as its executive director.

- Wolff came into F1 hot on the heels of Spaniard Maria de Villota, who signed up as a test driver for Marussia during the 2012 season. Unfortunately, Maria suffered a serious crash in July 2012 when she drove into a lorry, suffering grievous head and facial injuries that eventually took her life in October 2013.

- Wolff isn’t the only woman in an F1 racing car - Simona De Silvestro is working with Sauber. The 25-year-old Swiss, who recently joined the team, is hoping for a seat in 2015.

- The last woman to race in an F1 Grand Prix was Lella Lombardi. The Italian took part in 12 main races during the 1970s. Her last race came in 1976, and she remains the only woman ever to have recorded a top six finish in the sport.

- Another Italian, Giovanna Amati, also joined Formula 1 through the Brabham team, but she was dropped after failing to qualify for three races during the early part of the 1992 season.

- Wolff started her career in karting, before moving gradually through to Formula Renault first (2001-04) and eventually to the Formula 3 event (2005).

- Wolff raced for Mercedes Benz in the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) series between 2006 and 2012 before being snapped up by the Williams team.

- Wolff started as many as 73 races in DTM, and her best effort came in 2010 when she finished the season in 10th position overall.

- Interestingly, both the teams which have recruited women drivers have women at positions of significant power. The Sauber team is lead by their principal Monisha Kaltenborn while Claire Williams, daughter of founder Frank Williams, is the deputy principal at the Williams team.

- Wolff lives with her husband in Ermatingen at Lake Constance in Switzerland.

The next time you see a blonde woman strolling down the paddock, think twice before writing her off as another model paid to walk her wares to decorate the fringes of this throbbing sport.