Who inspires the F1 Academy drivers?

Ella Lloyd

Rodin Motorsport
A female driver that has inspired me is Jade Edwards. She helped and coached me during my first year of racing, giving me valuable advice. It was great to be able to get guidance from her especially as she had also raced in the Ginetta Junior series during her career, like me. Another inspiration has been Jamie Chadwick. When I started racing, W Series was running, and it was inspiring to see her doing so well.

Doriane Pin

PREMA Racing 
I learned about Michèle Mouton from my dad. I was following quite a lot of rallying when I was starting go-karting, and she was the one that showed that everything is possible in motor sport, especially in rallying, so she was the one I was looking at. And then I met her at one point in my career, and I had a little chat with her. So this was very cool. She’s a powerful woman. She said that we have our place in motor sport, and we have to earn respect and be very professional to create opportunities in our career. She was very committed to her work when she was driving, and I am completely aligned with what she said, and it’s what I’m doing every day, working hard with my team and trying to build something good. So obviously she’s someone to remember, and we will still remember her for many, many years.

Chloe Chong

Rodin Motorsport 
I’d say that the most continuous female motor sport inspiration I’ve had growing up was Abbi Pulling. Which is weird, because I actually raced against her on several occasions. But I’d say it’s because going through the British karting championship, I always followed her, and she was the reason why I aspired to take part in that championship in the first place and go up the ladder. She was winning, her results speak for her, that she was beating a grid of 30-odd boys, and I looked up to that. I’m following what she has done.

Being part of the Ronin Motorsport family she comes in sometimes, sets us a reference lap on the sim, or comes to test days and helps out with just advice in general, even if she’s coaching someone else specifically. So she’s always helpful, always friendly and she honestly has a wealth of knowledge. She says that people always like to tell her to shut up because she speaks too much! But everything that she says is really great stuff.

Lia Block

ART Grand Prix 
I have to choose my mom [Lucy Block]. I grew up in a motor sport family, and my mother raced in rallies when I was growing up. So I saw her always doing it, and there was never any doubt in my mind that I could do it. She really helped me. She had fun, and I think she taught me that that’s the most important part of motor sport and racing cars – always having fun in what you’re doing. She used to drive a Ford Fiesta R2, the WRC Junior Championship car, and now she drives an R5. She doesn’t drive as much any more because we’re running around the world chasing F1, but she still enjoys it.

Alisha Palmowski

Campos Racing 
Susie Wolff may seem like the obvious answer. The opportunity that she’s given me to showcase what I can do on a global stage as a support series to F1 has changed my life. Equally as an athlete herself she was the most recent female to compete in an FP1 session. I think she’s really proven that females can drive modern-day F1 cars to a really good standard, so she’s a big inspiration for me. She’s been somebody that I’ve looked up to for years, and now working with her, she’s an incredible figure for F1 Academy as well. She’s extremely accessible on race weekends, so if I need support or assistance or some advice then I feel she’s only just a phone call away.

Tina Hausmann

PREMA Racing 
Susie Wolff, for sure. Obviously I know she had a great career as a racing driver, which for me is very inspiring, but perhaps more importanly now as the boss of F1 Academy. As a businesswoman, I think she is very remarkable, and I really look up to her for what she has achieved. And it’s great to be part of her project.

Nina Gademan

PREMA Racing 
When they had still the W Series, and before F1 Academy, there was a Dutch driver called Beitske Visser. When I was younger, I met up with her a couple of times, and she showed me around the pitbox. I used to look up to her, because she was racing formula cars. And then basically when she stopped, I started doing it. She’s very Dutch, similar to me, similar to Max – she doesn’t talk a lot, so she didn’t give me any advice! She’s not racing a lot now. I think if she would have been in this generation, she would have come much further. Obviously, they push women a lot more now.

Chloe  Chambers

Campos Racing 
I feel like everybody else probably has said this, but Susie Wolff, for sure. I grew up when she was still actively driving. She was one of the first people to start a lot of the female initiatives to gain more participation, and I was trying to get my name out there to her. So I’m glad to now be racing in F1 Academy, where finally I’ve had the chance to meet her. And she is super inspirational, definitely full of wisdom for all of us.

Obviously, the biggest thing is helping me to get into F1 Academy, having that belief in me to carry the brand and show my skill on track. She’s been exactly where we all are right now, so she knows exactly what we’re going through, and she always knows the right words to say to us. She leaves us little hints here and there on things, and she knows what’s going on. She has a lot of knowledge on F1 and what it’s like to drive the car. So to hear her say that it definitely is possible is a really good feeling for all of us.