Susie Wolff shuts down FIA presidency rumors

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F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff has reportedly dismissed suggestions that she would be keen on challenging current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in the institution’s upcoming elections.

Whispers from Italy’s Autosprint last week pegged the 42-year-old Scot as a contender for the FIA presidency, with Ben Sulayem’s first term set to wrap up at the end of 2025.

But according to website PlanetF1, Wolff has no interest in tackling the governing body’s presidency later this year, having her hands full and her heart set on turbocharging the future for women in motorsport.

Full Throttle on F1 Academy

Wolff’s no stranger to the spotlight, but she’s brushing off the speculation with a laser focus on her mission.

As managing director of F1 Academy, the all-female feeder series, she’s carving out a legacy that’s already shifting gears in the sport.

After a standout second season in 2024, the series has hit its stride – racing alongside F1 weekends, beaming live to fans, and locking in every F1 team to back at least one driver.

It’s a platform Wolff’s fiercely proud of, and she’s not about to trade her pit wall perch for a political podium.

“I always like to think of this as my year one really, and I say that with a lot of enthusiasm, but also knowing that I've got to prove that the concept was right,” Wolff said a year ago ahead of the series’ second campaign, quoted by Motorsport.com.

“I'm hugely proud of what we've achieved at this point. It's still just the beginning, I think there's a lot more we can do, but I can already see the positive impact we're having and that's something which is reassuring to know that we're on the right path,” she added.

For Wolff, the proof is in the progress – young women are getting real shots at racing glory, and she is the one turning the key.

More Fantasy Than Feasible

Beyond her unwavering focus, there’s also a practical snag to the presidency rumors: her marriage to Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, makes it a non-starter.

The FIA gig demands impartiality, and having the spouse of an F1 team boss at the helm would scream conflict of interest louder than a V6 at full revs.

©Instagram/SusieWolff

Her ties to Mercedes would tangle any bid in red tape and accusations of bias, rendering the Autosprint speculation more fantasy than feasible.

The report might have stirred the pot, but she’s not biting. Instead, she’s doubling down on F1 Academy, proving that her vision – born from years as a racer and advocate - can reshape the sport’s DNA.

Ben Sulayem’s successor will have to wait; Susie Wolff’s race is already in motion, and she’s not shifting lanes.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.