Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Podbit · Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Susie Wolff (Managing Director of F1 Academy)

Explore episode Jun 24, 2026
Society & Culture
The Love Story: Miss Austria, a Phone Call, and a Petrol Station Text

Susie Wolff (Managing Director of F1 Academy) · Jun 24, 2026 Society & Culture

Susie first noticed Toto at a team dinner, but was told he was dating Miss Austria. The opening came when he had an accident at the Nürburgring and she was the one 'volunteered' to call him. They spoke for an hour. Months later, at a fuel station while driving back to Switzerland, she drafted a text message ten times and sent it: 'If it had to be someone from Mercedes, it would only ever be you.' He bought a ring six weeks later.

Where this was said

Femininity in a Pink Car: Finding Confidence as Susie Wolff

At 52:20 · chapter starts 51:00

Susie describes boxing away her femininity in her teens because it felt like a sign of weakness in a macho environment. Then Mercedes put her in a pink car because the sponsor's logo was pink. She was older by that point and more confident — and suddenly small girls were turning up to races dressed in pink. 'Is it the Hello Kitty car?' they asked. She realised: if pink gets girls to the trackside, she could drive a pink car. Getting married to Toto and taking his name was the other turning point. Mercedes' comms team told her she couldn't change her name. She told them she absolutely was. She wasn't on her own anymore.

Society & Culture
Femininity Stopped Feeling Like Weakness

Susie Wolff (Managing Director of F1 Academy) · Jun 24, 2026 Society & Culture

As a teenager, Susie suppressed her femininity because she felt it made her look weak in a male environment. Then Mercedes put her in a pink car because the sponsor's logo was pink. Suddenly little girls were appearing at the fence in pink outfits asking if it was the 'Hello Kitty car.' She realised: if pink gets girls to the trackside, she could drive a pink car. Getting married and no longer being 'on her own anymore' completed the shift.

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