Driven: The Inspirational Memoir from the Formula One Trailblazer, featuring an afterword by Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff

by Susie Wolff

THE GROUNDBREAKING STORY OF SUSIE WOLFF'S LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

From the moment her parents first sat her in a go-kart, Susie Wolff felt it - the thrill of speed, the spark of something bigger. A little girl who dared to dream to one day race in Formula One. As a teenager, the posters in her bedroom were not of boy bands or movie stars, but of F1 racing heroes.

As Susie Wolff rose through the ranks of motorsport, one truth became impossible to she was almost always the only woman on the grid. Each time she was knocked down, she got back up with the unshakeable belief that instinct and resilience could carve a path through a world not designed for her. The journey was tough, but one day she was handed the opportunity of a lifetime - 25 laps in an F1 car. She knew chances like that didn't come often, and when they did, you had to grab them.

After showing she could be competitive in an F1 car, what next? When her racing chapter ended, Susie didn't stall, she pivoted. Inspired by her husband Toto's strategic mind and relentless drive in powering one of the most successful F1 teams in history, Susie began to see a new dimension of the sport - one beyond the driver's seat. She led a struggling Formula E team and transformed it from being at the back of the grid to championship contention. More than that, she learned to evolve.

F1 Academy became her next to inspire young women to enter motorsport and shape the future of the sport she loves.

In Driven, Susie lifts the bonnet for the first time on her extraordinary life. From the driver's seat of the racing car to the heart of the F1 paddock, she offers a rare, first-hand view into the inner workings of motorsport at its highest level. She shares the triumphs of her early driving career, the setbacks she faced and the motivations behind her bold shift from the cockpit to the boardroom. Along the way, she reflects on her transformative relationship with her husband Toto and how she has navigated the balance between ambition and motherhood. Told with clarity and grace, this is the inspirational story of a woman determined not just to compete - but to redefine the race.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, Sports, Memoir, Autobiography

Audible Audio

Published October 23, 2025

Reviews

[Meg ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

everything.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fiancé and I listened to this whilst we painted our kitchen and it was a brilliant brilliant story. What an interesting, inspiring woman Susie Wolff is, it was genuinely thrilling to hear about her (colossal) experience in racing and it was also a joy to hear about her relationship with Toto…. and then Toto speaking at the end! Just wonderful.

As a woman who was brought up on Formula 1 and is now absolutely loving seeing F1 academy and more women in racing, from the bottom of my feminist heart, thank you Susie Wolff; the change you’re creating is making this fantastic sport an even better one. Proud to be a fan of F1.

[Stephanie Zahrbock]

Susie Wolff, no need to say anything more 10/2025

[♡ Char ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

• » ♡ « •

❝‒ 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒔 - 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 [...] 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 ‒❞

• » ♡ « •

A woman of pure elegance. She manages to be so graceful in such an aggressive environment. The way her book was written kind of felt like you were right there beside her, going through all the emotions of hope, frustration, stress, fear.
She’s an absolute female warrior.

I could go on about her forever. She’s an Icon. A Queen. An Inspiration. I absolutely adore and she inspires me to be a better, braver person.

I adore the fact that she’s incredibly empathetic and considerate of both the struggles of being a female in a workplace and then also motherhood. The struggle of (a female in) Motorsports isn’t the only takeaway from the book. I think more people from a leadership position should take a leaf from her book.

I wasn’t aware of the struggles leading up to the F1 Academy, so what Susie spoke about in her book gave a great insight to that; from the general startup to when the Pandemic shook the world.

I adore her.

[Mai H.]

Memoir March TBR

Non-fiction November TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co.

[Maggie Walch · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is everything to me

[Laura Tolp · Rating 5 out of 5]

My most anticipated 2025 release! Listening to the audiobook, read by Susie herself, was an absolute joy.

[veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susie Wolff, the woman that you are. I want to be you when I grow up

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gunther, never change. “I’ll support you in whatever way I can - just don’t ask me for money”. Friken legend.

[Becky Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I hoped it would be - I was really into motorsports around the early 2010s and was a big fan of Susie at the time, being one of so few women racing at the top. I'd loosely been aware of her work since but not followed closely, I'm not as much into motorsports now. Hearing her story in her own words is so inspiring, and has come to me at a perfect time. I finished it in 1 day. I can appreciate it may not be everyone's cup of tea but it really spoke to me and if you've faced adversity and work in a competitive field I think it will for you too. Gave me lots to think about. 5*

[Alyssa Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I can conquer the world now

[megean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely was more racing focused, with a huge emphasis on her career as opposed to her family and personal life. Susie did dive into her romance a bit more than her other personal events, and I really enjoyed that. However, I wanted more than surface level mentions of her relationships with her family, friends and just being a mom. I feel like she name dropped Lewis Hamilton's name more than her own son. However, it was a racing/F1 centric memoir so it does make a bit more sense...

I truly enjoyed her memoir, it was an easy read, and learning about her success story was definitely inspiring. Anyone who is interested in F1/NASCAR/Karting/Motorsports/cars would find this memoir interesting :)

[Mary C. Saavedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a WONDERFUL way to finish my monthly reading.

I've been a Formula 1 fan since I'm a little girl, and following Susie's journey, it's been not only fun to watch but also inspiring.

Been the only female driver in so many ocasions has shape Susie's journey and character in a way it's remakable.

This book is a powerful reminder that we can achieve EVERYTHING we want by being just loyal to ourselves, responsible and dedicates to our dreams.

And the afterwords by Toto Wolff? I mean 😍❤️

[Dani Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite reads of the year.
Susie Wolff is a powerhouse of drive and devotion when it comes to bringing more women into what was a very dominated masculine formula one world.
This book not only discusses her life and the journey into the sporting world. But also her feelings and what motivates her everyday.
Reading this felt so insightful as I learnt so much about this strong women but also found a lot of lessons that I could learn in myself.
Will be recommending this not only for F1 fans to read. But also for women to be inspired by.

[Teodora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written autobiography, I loved it very much! The style in which it is written made this story very catchy and easy to read. In the best way possible, I felt like I was watching a movie.
Susie Wolff's story is an inspiration about believing in yourself and finding a purpose in life that makes you feel fulfilled.
Her contibution to motorsport and how women who want to pursue a career in the field is truly inspiring. What particularly stuck with me was her story about the pink 'Hello Kitty' car and how one opinion, that came at the right time, from the right person and in the right moment, can change your view positively.
The main takeaway of this book: never give up on your dreams; they're uniquely yours and there's a reason why you dream them! 🌟

[Toni Procter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looooved this book. Resonated so much with the whole ‘being the only girl in the room’ theme. What Susie has done for women’s motorsport is truly epic and I can’t wait to see how it progresses in the future!

[Izzy Blox · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love you susie

[Issy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susie’s story is so inspiring and relatable. Highly recommend especially the audiobook!

[Jade F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not usually into autobiographies, but I gave Susie’s a go and I’m so glad I did. It was funny, engaging and surprisingly inspiring, and I loved getting to know more about her. Special mention to the chapter about how she and Toto met, because it honestly felt like I’d picked up a romance book by mistake.

I read it alongside the audiobook and enjoyed both, but the audio was the real standout. Hearing Susie tell her own story just made it even better. Her writing flows beautifully and is so easy to sink into.

Highly recommend- I finished it feeling like I could take on the world 🤣🏎️💗

[Leyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring, though the writing is repetitive and not very skilled

[Bex D]

Well written and read by the author. I loved hearing about Susie's upbringing and her racing background.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 no notes 🤌🏼

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

great autobiography, all the struggles and hardships she has overcome are astounding.

I was giggling and kicking my feet when she started talking about how she and Toto first started dating 🤭 also what a cute afterword

[Flavia Velcsov · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is for all the girls in a male dominated job ❤️
Fav one of the year

[Akrive · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that Susie knows how to inspire and get you fired up. Her writing style draws you in, it's like listening to a friend tell you their life story. As a little girl who was always into "masculine" things (toy cars, football etc.), but also loved expressions of "femininity" (pink, pop music, Polly Pocket etc.), I resonated with that strange feeling of being excluded by my male counterparts. Little girls are more likely to accept boys in their social circles, but a girl in boys' circles are always underestimated and never fully "in on it". It's one of the first hits in a little girl's self-esteem and identity. I want this culture to change.

One thing I wish the book did more is provide more depth into the Motorsport industry. I wasn't looking for an exposé, but I did find that aspect to be quite superficial.

The comments regarding Saudi Arabia and how she was initially hesitant but then changed her mind because she was allowed to not wear a hijab was... unnecessary and egocentric. Susie, you can admit that Motorsport ignores Saudi Arabia's human rights violations because of money. Just do not paint your own collaboration with their government as a "movement toward change". You are not a trailblazer nor part of a freedom movement for non-white, non-European women.

Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I also was kicking my feet at her and Toto's love story. She has a knack for romance writing, I must admit.

I recommend you listen to the audiobook version she narrates.

[Wendy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of F1 and being a woman, this book strikes a cord in me. Susie leads by example of how the glass ceiling can be adjusted by hard work and determination. I look forward to what her next move is.

[char · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! I’m a sucker for a sports memoir and will read any I can get my hands on, but this one was quite special. Susie has been a personal hero of mine since I was a little kid, and reading her story in full was fascinating.

The tone used throughout made this such an easy book to get sucked into. It was quite grounded, but also very thoughtful. I liked how the casual name drops showed how much motorsport is connected, highlighting successes of other drivers she raced alongside (but if I wrote this book I wouldn’t have kept Danica Patrick anonymous, her comment on F1A was so annoying).

I loved the way the writing really let Susie’s personality shine through, with a sense of both bravery and toughness and a willingness to learn. While the racing section was fascinating, and gave excellent insight on how driving feels, the section about running Venturi and F1 Academy was so good to read. I’m not particularly business-minded, so learning how these were run is fascinating.

The final third of the book focuses both on Susie’s post-racing career and her family life. It was quite evocative of Michelle Obama’s Becoming, in the sense that it showed how successful families run and how women can balance a home life and a job.

Overall, this was a great autobiography of someone who has both been very successful in her own right, and has been an inspiration for many. It starts and ends with one key idea - in the car, no one can tell the difference between male and female drivers, so why should we expect them to drive differently?

[Jimena · Rating 4 out of 5]

???/10 | No me parece justo evaluar un memoir con el sistema CAWPILE, así que simplemente le daré 4 estrellas.

Me pareció un libro super interesante y me hizo lagrimear varias veces. A pesar de que Susier Wolff y yo hemos vivido y nos hemos desarrollado profesionalmente en contextos super distintos, ambas somos mujeres y aveces pasamos por los mismos baches sin importar de donde vengamos.

Este fue mi primer año viendo todas las carreras de una temporada en la F1 Academy, por lo cual saber todo el contexto que hay detrás me gustó un montón. Igual me llegó/pegó mucho todos los capítulos sobre su administración del equipo de Formula E, principalmente porque me defico a un trabajo administrativo y porque me encanta aprender más de el lado administrativo de todo en general.

Todo este viaje mental que pasó Susie de amar el rosa, quererlo en su traje; a no quererlo ver en ningún lado por lo que representaba portar colores “de niña” en un ambiente lleno de hombres, a ver como algo tan tonto como el color de un carro puede abrir la mente de las personas y permitir que las niñas sueñen con algo que no se les permitía soñar antes. Esa lucha constante entre querer equidad y darte cuenta que el ser y el deber ser no concuerdan por lo que se tiene que crear un camino para que a las mujeres no sea mas sencillo caminar por el hasta que la sociedad nos permita caminar por el mismo camino que los hombres.

Igual esto es mas morbo pero toda la parte donde narra su romance con Toto me pareció graciosisima, que pasen tips ambos para ser tan coquetos porfa.

En fin, lo recomiendo :D

[Helen Wu ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Driven by Susie Wolff in two days. I picked it up because I kept hearing her name as Toto Wolff’s wife, but the story I found was her own. She begins as a racer in a male dominated sport. She then steps into managing a team and does it with a sharp understanding of her worth. She negotiates in a way that gives her real ownership so she is not simply an employee. She is a builder shaping something she believes in.

What struck me most was how universal her lessons are. This book is not only for Formula One or karting fans. It is for anyone curious about leadership, business, and the hard work of choosing your own path. She writes with honesty about ambition, tough decisions, and the moment you realize a dream no longer fits. She also shows how support can steady you without carrying you. Her parents gave her roots. Toto Wolff gave her a partner who listened. But her drive and resilience are her own.

I did not expect to get emotional, but the final chapters almost made me cry. The life lessons land with force. The hope she has for girls in sport feels real. I admire her clarity of purpose and her commitment to creating a more balanced world for all genders. This is a fantastic read. I am grateful to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy. I hope many people pick it up.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read exploring the complexities of professional car racing in a way it had never previously been explained to me. Former test driver Susie Wolff, who did 25 laps of Silverstone in an F1 car, had to battle against perceptions and prejudice from a young child as she took on boys in go-karting. All credit to her parents who brought her up to be as daring and active as her brother, karting, skiing, mountain biking and water skiing. Success in karting led to the next step, and Susie Stoddart, as she was, was poised for greatness, twice in the final for young driver of the year alongside Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
But disaster struck when she took her gran to the shops on an icy night, slipped and severely damaged her ankle. Recovery cost her place in the team and by the time she was healed, she had to start from scratch. Undaunted, Susie won her place in the DTM championship in Germany. Determined to be viewed as a driver, competing on the same level as her peers, rather than as a token female, has been Wolff's life long battle. After racing she became a successful business woman. She now runs the televised F1 academy, coaching young women to see a career in motor racing.
There is also the angle of "Susie's husband", Mercedes supremo Toto Wolff, and how they met and started dating.