Perhaps F1’s brightest hope for a female race driver – since Simona de Silvestro’s Sauber test didn’t work out – has gone extinguished.
Williams Martini Racing test driver Susie Wolff will retire from active driving at year’s end, the team confirmed on Wednesday.
It sees Wolff – who’s run four FP1 sessions (2014 British, German and 2015 Spanish and British Grands Prix) as the first female to actively participate in a Grand Prix weekend in 22 years since Giovanna Amati in 1992 – depart the scene as an active test driver.
“I’d like to thank Williams for the opportunity they have given me over the last few years which has allowed me to achieve my dream of driving a Formula 1 car,” Wolff said in a team release.
“It has been great to work with everyone at the team, both at Grove and trackside, and I’d like to thank everyone who has been part of my journey at Williams. I am now closing this chapter but looking forward to new challenges in the future.”
Added deputy team principal Claire Williams, “It has been a pleasure to work with Susie over the years and see her develop as a driver within the team. Her feedback and knowledge of the car has been an important part our recent development and we will be sorry to see her go. We want to thank her for all her efforts and wish her the very best for her future endeavours. We will of course be supporting both Susie and Felipe at the Race of Champions, and hope Susie has a great weekend to mark the last time we see her race.”
Wolff’s driving finale, as noted above, will be at the Race of Champions.
The team also has F1 veteran Adrian Sutil as reserve driver and 2014 GP3 champion Alex Lynn as test and development driver.
