Known for portraying empowered female characters on-screen, Reese Witherspoon is now venturing to highlight women in the world of Formula 1 racing with Netflix. The streaming giant is currently working on a new sports documentary following the success of Formula 1: Drive to Survive, which shared insight into the lives of drivers and races of the Formula 1 World Championship.
The new documentary, however, will shift its focus on Formula 1’s women-only developmental division, F1 Academy, which was founded by Formula 1 in late 2022 and aims to nurture female drivers who can ascend the ranks of the sport.
Reese Witherspoon Teams Up with Netflix for Female-Led Sports Documentary
Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon‘s Hello Sunshine is producing a new docuseries with Netflix titled, F1 Academy. Initially announced in 2023, the docuseries is now in development and is scheduled to premiere on Netflix in 2025.
Following 15 female drivers across all 5 F1 Academy teams, F1 Academy will delve into the drama surrounding the motorsport races and share insight into their personal stories as they break barriers and push boundaries in one of the most challenging sports in the world.
Susie Wolff, the managing director of F1 Academy, described the docuseries as one of the significant steps in introducing and encouraging more women to participate in racing sports. She also said, as per The Hollywood Reporter,
“To have the F1 Academy docuseries launch globally with Netflix is not just a huge step forward in visibility for our mission, but also a resounding statement about the momentum and demand for women’s sport.”
Formula 1: Drive to Survive | Credit: IMDb
F1 Academy will join the ranks of Netflix sports documentaries like Formula 1: Drive to Survive, known for its role in sparking interest and awareness about Formula 1. The new docuseries also aspires to do the same by “inspire and empower the next generation of young women” as it shares the stories of women drivers.
Reese Witherspoon Aims to Reshape the Narrative For Women
Reese Witherspoon, who founded her production company Hello Sunshine with the aim of reshaping the narrative for women, is expanding her mission to spotlight women in racing sports through the new Netflix sports docuseries, F1 Academy.
In a statement, the actress praised Susie Wolff, the managing director of F1 Academy for creating new opportunities for women “in the thrilling world of motorsport.” She further highlighted how putting women at the forefront of these stories will attract audiences and generate widespread interest.
“As these dynamic and fearless drivers break barriers behind the wheel, we are excited to partner with Netflix to tell the stories of these powerhouse leaders. What we know is that when we put women at the center, people show up to watch.”
Witherspoon co-founded the production company Hello Sunshine with Seth Rodsky in 2016, which is dedicated to supporting women’s authorship and championing diverse narratives. The production company has been behind acclaimed shows like Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Little Fires Everywhere.
F1 Academy is scheduled to be released in 2025.
Formula 1: Drive to Survive is available to stream on Netflix.
