After a successful stint in Formula Renault 2.0 – similar to Formula 1 cars
but smaller and with less power – she made the leap into the British F3
International series, but had to pull out after just four races due to a
broken ankle.
In 2005, facing life with no team or sponsorship, Wolff’s career was saved by
a call from Mercedes Benz asking her to test their German touring car. She
was offered a contract and in 2010 finished seventh in the championship,
ahead of team-mates including Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard.
After seven successful seasons she left the touring car circuit and joined
Williams as a development driver, piloting a simulator used for
aerodynamical tests. She completed her first test drive in 2012.
The announcement of Wolff’s F1 drive came 10 days after Sauber appointed
Simona De Silvestro as an affiliated driver, a step towards gaining the
superlicence she requires to compete. After a number of deflating claims
about the suitability of women for Formula One in recent months, most
notably Sir Stirling Moss stating that female drivers lacked the mental
capacity for the sport, Wolff and De Silvestro’s elevation marks a small
dent in F1’s male-dominated status.
Wolff believes her performance in last summer’s test helped shake up the idea
that she was simply a “blonde girl walking around the paddock”. She added
that she was aware of the significance of driving at an F1 event, but said
she had earned the opportunity. “It’s not about being a woman, it’s about
being the absolute best you can be,” she said.