From the very first pages of Driven, Susie Wolff takes the reader into the cockpit of her life. From her childhood in Oban, Scotland, a motorbike at age two and go‑karts at eight laid the foundation for something unexpected: a woman who would break into one of the most male‑dominated sports in the world.

Her early reflections reveal a theme that recurs throughout the book: the idea of not being defined by gender, but by ambition, skill and passion. As she puts it,

“When I was a kid, I didn’t think about boy or girl matters—I just did what I enjoyed.”

Raw, Relentless Pursuit of Performance

Wolff describes in vivid detail the physical strain of racing, blistered hands, neck pain, and G‑forces that assault one’s body lap after lap, alongside the mental discipline of being in the room where you are the only woman, or the “girl”, hearing that word more often than “driver”.

In her first book she also explains how that “perspective” became a burden in itself. As a result of this view, she felt she couldn’t show weakness because “I was being judged as the only girl there”. In the narrative she lays bare the setbacks, with some of the more insidious moments hitting hard.

For example, she has spoken of being confronted with questions about her appointment as a team principal: “Did your husband get you the job? What qualifies you? How do you manage being a mother and a team principal?” These experiences foreground much of her biography, as both a memoir of life in motorsport and a critique of the obstacles systemic to her world.

The Joy of Pursuing Motorsport

Driven also chronicles high points, such as her Formula 1 appearance as the first female driver in 22 years at the 2014 British Grand Prix, or her pivot into management and leadership roles post‑driving. Every step of the way has led her into the pathway of pushing for the building of initiatives to open up motorsport to more women.

Wolff explains in detail how she shifted from being a race car driver to taking on executive roles. Describing her walk from a team management role in Formula E to becoming the Managing Director of the F1 Academy, a platform for young female drivers. She writes,

“The fact that I’m a woman is just a side story. But if being a woman and doing what I do can help inspire more, then I see that as being a positive.”

Wolff is not using the book to talk about what happened to her, but more so about what must change for the next generation.

A Candid Chronicle of Change

The tone of Driven is intentionally direct. There is no glossing over the sexism, self‑doubt, pain or fear. At the same time, it contains many moments of gratitude and the recognition that perseverance and hard work matter more than identity labels. One reviewer has noted how Wolff’s story in motorsport “was an exercise in revelling in discomfort”—physically and emotionally.

Wolff has asserted herself in a sport that has rarely given women room to breathe. Her performance-first mindset, the discipline of preparation, and her walk of experience from karting to the boardroom give her credibility. Her closing chapters reflect just that: the payoff isn’t just personal success; it’s systemic change.

Driven is a candid, energised story of ambition, challenge and responsibility. Wolff uses her story not just to reflect. It’s a vital part of the conversation about diversity, opportunity and performance in high‑stakes sport. The legacy she sketches is personal and communal: she made it; she’s helping many more make it.