Susie Wolff named team principal, shareholder at Venturi Formula E

Susie Wolff has been appointed as Venturi’s new team principal in Formula E after becoming a shareholder in the team.

Venturi, who has signed Felipe Massa to its driver line-up for next season, will welcome former Formula 1 test and development Williams driver Wolff as team boss who will take up the role for the start of season five of the all-electric series which starts in Saudi Arabia in December.

Marking the start of the Gen2 Formula E car era, Wolff is relishing the new challenge having retired from racing in 2015 and sees becoming a shareholder and team principal at Venturi as “the perfect next step.”

“When I decided to stop as a professional driver in 2015, I knew that I wanted to continue with the challenge of competitive racing, just not behind the wheel,” Wolff said. “You can’t just switch off your competitive instincts when you stop driving and that determination and desire to achieve still burn brightly inside me.

“I took time to carefully decide the right direction for that challenge and I have now found the perfect next step, with the opportunity to become both a shareholder and team principal of Venturi Formula E Team.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Gildo [Pastor, CEO of Venturi], who is rightly recognised as a pioneer in electric automobiles and who saw the potential of the series from the very beginning. I can’t wait to begin this next chapter in my racing career and to tackle all of the challenges ahead.”

Despite the move marking Wolff’s first step into racing management, Pastor is confident the former DTM driver can make an instant impact and is thrilled to welcome her to the team alongside fellow former Williams driver Massa.

“Her energy and expertise will help us to grow by strengthening the team and introducing a new approach to management,” Pastor said. “Thanks to her personal experience Susie takes a unique strategic view of the team, the championship and motor racing in general.

“She will certainly lead the Venturi Formula E Team to the top. Her desire to become a shareholder illustrates an unwavering commitment which warms my heart. Venturi are proud to welcome Susie at a key moment in the history of the group.”

Venturi has also forged a partnership with Mercedes-affiliated squad HWA AG who is preparing to step into Formula E from next season running Venturi cars.

Wolff is married to Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff with the German manufacturer set to enter the all-electric series as a manufacturer effort from the 2019-20 season.

Since retiring from racing Wolff has been part of Channel 4's Formula 1 pundit line-up while also helping launch the Dare To Be Different campaign.