F1 ACADEMY and More than Equal join forces to find first female Formula 1 World Champion

What's stopping women from racing at the highest level of motorsport? 

More than Equal is striving to answer this question and solve this issue via a ground-breaking partnership with F1 ACADEMY that sees these pioneering organizations Accelerate Action for women on and off the track.

As the official Driver Performance & Research Partner, More than Equal is working with F1 ACADEMY want to find the first female Formula 1 World Champion to accelerate the development of female talent in motorsport.

Through its role, More than Equal leverages its expertise in high-performance development and data-driven insights to support F1 ACADEMY’s mission of increasing female representation at the highest levels of racing.

This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to developing female talent in motorsport, providing both the structure and resources necessary to drive long-term change in the sport.

“I’m excited to share that More than Equal has become the Official Driver Performance & Research Partner of F1 Academy, as we join forces in our shared goal to strengthen the female talent pipeline and advance women in motorsport. We are also thrilled to welcome Susie Wolff into More than Equal’s Advisory Board, where her involvement will help drive impactful initiatives to support the next generation of female racing talent. Looking forward to our collaboration,” said More than Equal Co-Founder, and former racing driver, David Coulthard. 

Strengthening the female talent pipeline

As well as strengthening the female talent pipeline, providing expert support for drivers, and launching new research-driven initiatives to advance women in motorsport, the partnership also enhances the training support available to drivers. This includes the provision by More than Equal of a dedicated physiotherapist who will provide expert care to F1 ACADEMY participants throughout the season. 

The relationship sees More than Equal and F1 ACADEMY further collaborate on research-driven initiatives, including the creation of a structured guide to support young female drivers in their development.

"This partnership represents a major step forward in creating a clear, data-driven pathway for female drivers. By combining More than Equal’s expertise in research and performance with F1 ACADEMY’s commitment to driver progression, we are ensuring that talented young women receive the support they need at every stage of their motorsport journey," said More than Equal CEO & Head of Driver Development, Tom Stanton.

"If we want to see real change in female participation at the highest levels of motorsport, we need to take an evidence- based approach. Our research will provide the data and insights needed to shape effective talent development strategies, ensuring female drivers have the right support structures in place to succeed," added More than Equal Head of Research, Dr. Fran Longstaff.

Susie Wolff joins Advisory Board

F1 ACADEMY Managing Director Susie Wolff joins More than Equal’s Advisory Board, bringing her extensive experience and leadership in female motorsport development. 

Susie's involvement further fosters collaboration between the two groups and helps drive impactful initiatives to support the next generation of female racing talent.

"More than Equal is fueling meaningful progress with insightful, industry-leading research. By coming together, and with the committed support of More than Equal, we will be an even stronger force for positive change in motorsport - with action, not just words," said Susie.

A global high-performance motorsport program

Founded by businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist Karel Komárek and former F1 driver David Coulthard, More than Equal is a global high-performance motorsport program, with a mission to find and develop the first female Formula 1 World Champion.

Driven by data and evidence, More Than Equal pioneers ground-breaking research into female driver performance, examining the key factors that influence success in elite motorsport. More than Equal identifies top female racing talent worldwide and delivers a bespoke Driver Development Programme, combining technical and tactical coaching, advanced physical preparation, and personal development to close the performance gap for girls and women in motorsport. The Driver Development Programme is a high-performance preparation programme that supports young, talented female drivers who have the potential to develop into elite racing drivers. An in-house team of experienced driving coaches, in collaboration with leading evidence-based coaching group Hintsa Performance, provides a bespoke programme of technical and tactical coaching, alongside physical preparation and personal development. The programme takes an Olympic-style approach to both early talent detection and to providing an age-appropriate high-performance environment designed to maximise the potential of the female athlete. This approach creates a unique and supportive environment, breaking down the barriers that have held talented girls back in motorsport for the past 50 years, and paving the way for them to reach F1.

More than Equal drivers are supported in becoming the best-prepared young female drivers ever in motorsport as they prepare to climb the ranks.

Welcoming its inaugural driver cohort

More than Equal welcomed its inaugural female driver cohort joining its pioneering Driver Development Programme.

Following an extensive global search and a rigorous selection process, the inaugural cohort consists of six female drivers from across the world:

• Ivonn Simeonova (Austria)
• Katrina Thung (Malaysia)
• Kristýna Kalistová (Czech Republic)
• Lana Flack (Australia)
• Laura Bubenová (Slovakia)
• Skye Parker (United Kingdom)

Aged between 13 and 14, these talented young drivers have been identified as showing high promise and will be supported by More than Equal to maximise their potential.

The selection panel consisted of ex-British Cycling coach Tom Stanton, More than Equal's Head of Driver Development, and More than Equal Driver Coaches Jordan King and Sarah Moore. The coaches’ professional racing experience, coupled with Stanton’s expertise in developing Olympic level coaching programmes and identifying elite athletic talent, ensured a holistic assessment of each candidate’s profile.

Elevating female talent in motorsport

More than Equal’s high-performance program complements F1 ACADEMY’s mission to elevate female talent at the next stage of their careers.

F1 ACADEMY was founded to accelerate the identification and progression of female talent in motorsport - both on and off the track. The F1 ACADEMY Racing Series is a Formula 4 level series designed to find and nurture female racing talent, giving drivers access to track time, mental and physical support and an unparalleled platform to compete alongside Formula 1.

F1 ACADEMY Discover Your Drive is a global initiative committed to promoting and increasing female participation in motorsport, igniting and inspiring the inner drive of young female talent.

F1 ACADEMY is also the driving force behind Netflix series F1: The Academy, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine. 

"Change won't happen overnight, but progress is already in action," says F1 Academy. "When the odds are against her, we're here to make them even."