Formula 1’s F1 Academy female drivers get the docuseries treatment.
Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine teams up with Formula 1 on the docuseries, which follows 15 female drivers from all 5 F1 Academy teams. “The docuseries will highlight the drama of the races, as well as the personal stories of these incredible drivers and the teams around them, as they break down barriers in one of the most demanding sports in the world,” the logline reads.
It is a format well known to Formula 1, with the Netflix docuseries Drive to survive now in its 5th season. The as-yet-untitled docuseries from the F1 Academy (which also doesn’t have a TV or streaming home yet) will have a format similar to that of the Netflix series. Drive to survive is sometimes credited with helping to stimulate interest and awareness in Formula One.
Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine’s unscripted head of Sara Rea will executive produce the series alongside Isabelle Stewart, who will executive produce on behalf of F1 Academy.
“These drivers are dynamic, inspiring and competitive, and Susie Wolff, their leader, is a force of nature in the best possible way,” Rea said in a statement. “With high stakes, adrenaline and heart, the F1 Academy is a rich landscape for compelling and powerful female storytelling.”
The F1 Academy was established late last year and is in the midst of its inaugural season. Drivers range between 16 and 25 years old, with 7 races scheduled during the year, culminating in the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. From 2024, the F1 Academy schedule will be aligned with the main Formula 1 competition schedule.
The announcement of the new show comes as Formula 1 prepares to present its Miami Grand Prix event this weekend, which has become one of the motorsports organization’s signature races. F1 is planning its biggest US event, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, for later this year.
“Formula 1 has established itself not only as a global powerhouse, but also as a forward-thinking competition committed to creating equal opportunities for women,” said Sarah Harden, CEO of Hello Sunshine, in a statement. “As the remarkable women of the pioneering F1 Academy prepare to make history, we are honored to have the opportunity to document the many compelling stories both on and off the track.”
“The F1 Academy will drive change in the motorsport industry as we create the best possible structure to find and nurture female talent, both on and off the track,” added Susie Wolff, F1 Academy managing director. “We want to inspire women around the world to follow their dreams, and by partnering with Hello Sunshine, who are leaders in inspiring female storytelling, we will reach a global audience and empower the next generation of young women to break down barriers in motorsport. and further.”
Owned by Candle Media, Hello Sunshine is no stranger to unscripted content, including the Apple TV+ contest series My kind of countryPrime Videos Make the cutand the documentary Wynonna: Between hell and hallelujah.
