By Balazs Szabo on July 16, 2025, 19:00
So, here’s this thing that F1 Academy did. They launched this Driver Development Guide. Honestly, I didn’t even know such a thing was needed, but apparently, it’s to help young girls get into motorsport. Who knew?
Anyway, this guide is totally new. Like, nothing else exists quite like it. The people behind it say it’s for girls at any point in their motorsport adventure—which, I guess, could mean anything from karting in the neighborhood to dreaming of Formula 1. Seems it was created because—get this—there’s a serious lack of clear support for girls wanting to climb that motorsport ladder. Which seems like a big oversight, right?
So, this guide’s got a bit of everything. There’s stuff about race craft, health tips specifically for females (because that’s a thing), and even mental skills. It dives into how social stuff affects your driving and lifestyle. Strange mix? Maybe. But kind of important?
And here’s the kicker—you can just download it for free from this fancy new Driver Development Hub on the F1 Academy site. Not gonna lie, free stuff is always good. The hub also has all sorts of links for parents and caregivers. Like, if you need to know about events or even the basics of nutrition for young drivers, it’s all there. Almost makes me think they should charge for it—almost.
Oh, and if you’re into virtual workshops, they’ve got those too. All designed to make the guide feel more alive and let you hear from real experts. Seems like there’s something for everyone.
Susie Wolff from F1 Academy chimed in with some thoughts. She mentioned how crucial it is for more girls to race so the best can even dream of reaching the top. Probably took them ages to get this guide done—sounds like a lot of sweat and tears went into it.
Susie also said they’ve worked with actual experts to make this guide comprehensive. It’s all about helping any girl, at any point, find her way in motorsports. Whether you’re racing already or just curious about it, this guide might be your thing.
Katie Denver, the talent development manager, brought up something interesting about finding those “marginal gains” on the track—like those tiny improvements that make a huge difference. Pretty wild, right? The guide covers all those bases with a holistic approach. Physical workouts, mental prep, tactical thinking—all part of it.
The goal? Creating well-rounded drivers who can handle the pressures both on and off the track. Makes you think there might be a little more to racing than just driving fast. Maybe.
