In the opening episode of F1: The Academy, Netflix’s glossy new motorsport docuseries, Susie Wolff sets the tone early-on. “This isn’t a moment,” the managing director of the all-female F1 Academy says with conviction. “It’s a movement.” Wolff repeats the line several times throughout the show, and it’s a sentiment that should feel empowering. But as the episodes unfold, it becomes clear that this mission statement is telling about what lies beneath the aesthetic polish and the big names attached to the production (Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine is at the helm).
F1: The Academy doesn’t quite know how to tell its own story. It wants viewers to believe that it’s deeply invested in the journey of fan favorite Bianca Bustamante, Mercedes ace Doriane Pin, and the season champion Abbi Pulling, but these athletes often feel like vehicles used to put the sport in front of young women and girls browsing Netflix, who may take an interest in racing as a result of watching the show. Of course, this isn’t a bad thing, but as a result, F1: The Academy misses the opportunity to offer a sharp, illuminating look at what’s actually holding female drivers back.
