F1: The Academy Season 1 Review – The next generation of female racers?
Season 1
Episode Guide
No Friends On Track
The One to Beat
No More Mrs. Nice Guy
Target On My Back
Feel The Heat
The Hardest Race Of My Life
End of the Road
F1: The Academy is Netflix's latest docu-series, taking inspiration from Drive to Survive but instead shining a spotlight on the trailblazing women in motorsport. With Formula 1 such a fiercely competitive environment, F1: The Academy is an intriguing addition, clearly aimed at boosting female interest and participation in racing, with the overall aim being to get women on the starting grid in Formula 1.
Fronted by Director Susie Wolff, this seven-part series aims to get more eyeballs on the women at the front of the pack — and what better platform to do that than the world's biggest streaming service.
The show follows the 2024 race season's ups and downs, shining a light on various racers and their unique stories. Of the group, the standout is undoubtedly Abbi Pulling, whose performances and on-track composure suggest a bright future in the sport.
Other drivers featured are more of a mixed bag, including Bianca Bustamante. She's given a significant amount of screen time across the season, and it's hard to tell whether that's because she makes compelling TV — courtesy of several crashes, missing the grid box by a country mile, and stalling the car — or if it's due to the massive media push surrounding her. With over 1.5 million followers, she certainly has the visibility, but her mid-table finish doesn't quite match the narrative.
Despite that, The Academy does a solid job of highlighting actual racing talent, with an important caveat: every driver uses the exact same machinery. Given that Formula 1 performance often comes down to funding and car development, this level playing field helps focus on pure skill — and that's a refreshing change.
It's worth tempering your expectations though, because the season is filled with mistakes, wobbles, and mental stumbles — but that's part of the appeal. It's about the process: how these women handle high-pressure environments, setbacks, and expectations. The cars themselves are comparable to Formula 4 in terms of performance, so while the racing is fast, it's not quite F1 levels of intensity.
If this show proves anything, it's that the road to Formula 1 is paved with blood, sweat, tears — and more than a few missed opportunities. Each episode focuses on different drivers, weaving in the usual Drive to Survive elements: slow-mo race footage, manufactured rivalries, and high-stakes editing. It's a formula that still works, but the real strength here lies in the behind-the-scenes material.
These quieter moments off the track are where the series finds its soul. We learn about the drivers' backgrounds, motivations, and the challenges they've overcome. One episode highlights Bianca Bustamante's relationship with social media — though it noticeably avoids addressing some of the controversy surrounding her, including past dishonesty about being homeless, which feels like a missed opportunity for more transparency.
The final episode neatly wraps things up with the last race of the season, offering a satisfying conclusion while teasing the possibility of future seasons to follow. It also answers the big question: which, if any, of these drivers make it to the next stage of their journey?
In the end, F1: The Academy is clearly designed as a gateway — a platform to inspire the next generation of female racers and show that motorsport isn't just a man's game. In that respect, it succeeds. While not perfect, it's an important and engaging watch that brings much-needed visibility to a side of the sport too often overlooked.
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