A new wave of interest in motorsport among women is reshaping the sport’s audience and participant base - and experts say Netflix’ Drive to Survive is one of the main catalysts.

According to a 2025 global survey by Formula 1 and Motorsport Network, women now make up about 41% of Formula 1’s global fanbase. Among female fans, 42% report following the women-only F1 Academy - making it the second-most-followed series after F1 itself.

Industry analysts and team marketing leads attribute much of this shift to the storytelling approach of Drive to Survive, which brings drivers, personalities and high-stakes rivalries into the spotlight - and makes F1 feel accessible to viewers who previously saw it as remote or male-dominated.

That growth in interest is translating into real participation. The F1 Academy - created in 2023 to give young women a clear path from karting to single-seater racing - has seen a huge boost in entries. In 2024, participation in its grassroots programme reportedly rose by 400%.

At the same time, the broader cultural shift is visible trackside and online. Events, social-media posts and fan forums now regularly include women - some sharing technical discussions, others simply celebrating the sport as a whole. According to one report, nearly half of new fans under 25 are female.

For many, the transformation has changed what motorsport looks like and who it welcomes. Once a niche, male-dominated interest, F1 is becoming a sport where women are not just present - they are driving change.