'Drive to Survive got me into F1 - now I work at Williams'
BBC World
March 4, 2026
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A young engineer’s journey from a casual interest sparked by *Drive to Survive* to landing a role at Williams F1 highlights the growing appeal of Formula 1 among women and the sport’s efforts to diversify its workforce. Christina Sullivan, now a wind tunnel systems engineer with Williams, credits the Netflix docuseries for fueling her passion for motorsport engineering. After discovering the show during the COVID-19 pandemic, she shifted her career focus from general engineering to F1, eventually securing an internship and a full-time position at Williams’ headquarters in Oxfordshire. Her story reflects a broader trend: between 2017 and 2024, female fans of F1 grew from 8% to 42%, driven by the show’s popularity among women and initiatives like F1 Academy, which promotes gender diversity in racing.
The rise of women in F1 is not just a fan demographic shift but also a professional opportunity. Williams has been at the forefront of these efforts, with former deputy team principal Claire Williams increasing female
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Originally published on BBC World on 3/4/2026