F1 Academy, the single-seater class for female racing talent, is following in the footsteps of Formula 1. The new documentary F1: The Academy will premiere on Netflix at the end of May. This seven-part series follows the drivers during the 2024 season and was produced by Hollywood actor Reese Witherspoon’s production studio. The successful counterpart to Formula 1, Drive to Survive, has brought many new fans to the sport over the past few years.
From May 28, F1: The Academy will be available worldwide on the streaming service Netflix. The docuseries follows the female drivers of 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 numerous sports documentaries that followed; 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 intention is for all ten Formula 1 teams to support a driver, thus offering more opportunities to the best female racers. Susie Wolff, partner of Mercedes team boss 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 actor Reese Witherspoon is the executive producer of the documentary through her own studio, Hello Sunshine.
In 2024, two Dutch drivers participated full-time in the F1 Academy. The 20-year-old Maya Heug competed for PREMA Racing with support from Ferrari, while the 22-year-old Emely de Heus raced for MP Motorsport with support from Red Bull. The 21-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.
