Netflix announce new F1 Academy programme

Formula 1: Drive to Survive arrived on Netflix in 2019 and has enjoyed a successful run with a season per year ever since. The show has been monumental for the platform, drawing in viewers around the world, and it has also helped reignite the sport’s popularity among a new generation of petrol heads. 

The documentary series gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Formula 1 motor racing. The camera teams follow the world-famous teams as they tackle Grand Prix races in the Formula One World Championship. Additionally, the series follows the life stories of the racers for background colour. 

Thanks to the sport’s rising popularity and a drive for female inclusivity, this year’s championship is set to be on the support bill for F1. It has been made available on YouTube and social media to stream for free.

Now, Netflix has announced another F1 show, this one focussing on the women’s F1 Academy, set to arrive on the platform in 2025. The upcoming multi-part series promises viewers a look behind the curtain and into the crevices of the promising drivers’ lives, mixing the intense drama of the track with personal challenges off the track. 

The upcoming series is produced by Hello Sunshine, the American media, film, and television production company established by actress Reese Witherspoon. “We started Hello Sunshine to change the narrative for women, and Susie Wolff and F1 Academy are doing just that by creating new opportunities in the thrilling world of motorsport,” Witherspoon said in a new statement. 

Continuing, she praised the women leading the charge in Formula 1. “As these dynamic and fearless drivers break barriers behind the wheel, we are excited to partner with Netflix to tell the stories of these powerhouse leaders,” Witherspoon added. “What we know is that when we put women at the centre, people show up to watch.”

Meanwhile, Susie Wolff MBE, managing director of the F1 Academy, stated: “We want to be the rocket fuel that drives female participation in our sport, both on and off the track. To have the F1 Academy docuseries launch globally with Netflix is not just a huge step forward in visibility for our mission, but also a resounding statement about the momentum and demand for women’s sport.”

Wolff concluded by discussing the new series’ primary aim: “We want to inspire and empower the next generation of young women, and Netflix will open up F1 Academy to a global audience of existing and future fans.”