Netflix’s ‘F1: The Academy’ accelerates visibility and delivers more than just speed

The first time I saw an F1 car speed down a track, I was mesmerized. Not just by the speed, but by the technical precision, innovative strategies, and adrenaline. But something felt off. Even after following the sport for four years, I couldn’t name a single female driver. It wasn’t until last year that I stumbled across a highlight reel on social media from the F1 Academy, a female racing category I didn’t even know existed.  

Now, with the new docuseries F1: The Academy, the spotlight is finally turning toward the women fighting for their place on the grid, and it’s about time we watched. 

Produced by Reese Witherspoon’s female-empowering production-company Hello Sunshine, F1: The Academy is Netflix’s latest attempt to open the motorsport world to a wider audience, this time with a focus on 15 young women striving for a spot on the Formula 1 grid.  

Filmed across the whole 2024 race season, the show follows F1 Academy, an all-female junior racing league created to give talented young drivers the support and exposure often missing for them in professional racing. Drivers train with the best and compete around the world, facing high expectations both on and off track.  

Marketed as a documentary following these drivers’ path to the top, the series ends up doing something even more important: it shows young girls that motorsport can be a place for them too. 

Former professional driver and current F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff sets the tone early with the statement, “Formula 1 is dominated by men, but that is about to change.” This sense of purpose is what separates F1: The Academy from other motorsport docuseries. While some shows like Netflix hit Drive to Survive have been criticized for relying on artificial drama and overproduced rivalries, F1: The Academy comes across as raw, real, and surprisingly relatable. 

The series presents its drivers as multi-dimensional people. Competitor Lola Lovinfosse who drives for Team Charlotte Tilbury confidently says, “I’m a racing driver, and I like to look feminine.” It’s a small quote, but a huge statement. In male-dominated sports, girls are often pressured to downplay their femininity in order to be taken seriously. However here, the message is clear; you can wear makeup, love fashion, and still be taken seriously as a racer. This balance is part of what makes the show so impactful, especially for young girls who shouldn’t have the choose between proving they belong and earning respect, or being themselves. 

It also avoids shallow portrayals of empowerment. It doesn’t rely on flashy slogans or moments of “girl power” that often feel forced or performative. Instead, it focuses on real, unfiltered competition. The drivers are not celebrated just for showing up as women, rather they’re expected to deliver, compete, and win, and it makes the show powerful. For example, fan-favourite Bianca Bustamante, now in her second and final season in the academy, struggles this year, making simple mistakes and losing positions she should have held onto. As a result, the show doesn’t hide the fact that her performance isn’t strong enough to guarantee her a future in racing, no matter how popular or charismatic she is. In contrast, French driver Doriane Pin rises to the occasion in her first season, finishing second in the championship. She’s everything a top-level racer needs to be; consistent, aggressive, and composed. 

These women aren’t trying to prove they belong by acting tough, toning themselves down, or fitting someone else’s idea of what strength looks like. They try to prove they belong by doing what great racers do, like showing grit, overcoming fear, and competing fiercely. 

The driver’s stories are furthermore deeply personal, like Abbi Pulling. She races under intense financial pressure, as she manages her own merchandise, lives with a roommate, and covers her own expenses. Pulling also can’t afford to have her father travel around the world to see her race. When she wins and calls him in tears, it becomes one of the most emotional scenes in the series, providing a vulnerable reminder of what’s at stake for many of these girls. While the scene was powerful, the impact gets lost in the episode’s structure. Instead of leading toward that emotional high point, the scene feels tucked away and rushed past. That kind of moment would have landed more powerfully as the closing scene of an episode rather than being placed awkwardly in the middle. 

Another weakness is the way each episode starts with a trailer-style montage that often feels like filler, repeating what we’ve seen or spoiling what’s to come. A cleaner, more focused opening would’ve left space for more meaningful storytelling or extra race footage, which would’ve been more exciting. 

That said, the racing scenes are unique and prove to be a huge strength. As a motorsport fan, I loved the tension captured through sharp cuts and on-board angles. The way producers frame the action had me holding my breath, especially during near misses, tight overtakes, and unpredictable weather. The camera work isn’t always smooth and can be wobbly at times, but the adrenaline and emotion still come through. That energy carries over into the storytelling, and by the later episodes, the pacing, build-up, and cliffhangers work well, making the wins feel earned, and the setbacks more personal. 

Equally, the series sticks with a smaller group of drivers. Instead of cramming in new faces every episode, we really get to know a core group of girls. That slower pace might feel too relaxed or repetitive for some people, but I loved it. It gave me time to connect with their stories, understand their motivation, and care about what happens to them on and off the track. 

What creates the most impact is the way the series looks ahead. ‘F1: The Academy’ is trying to create something that lasts. While it succeeds in highlighting the talent on the grid as well as diving into personal challenges and growth, it also creates a space for young girls to picture themselves not just watching, but racing.  

With Susie Wolff in charge, that mission feels real. She’s not interested in flashy change or headlines, but instead in building something that lasts for years to come.  

“We don’t want to be just a moment,” Wolff says. “We want to be a movement.” 

Image Credit: F1 Academy Website