Christina Sullivan went from knowing nothing about Formula 1 to working as a wind tunnel systems engineer at Williams F1. The 27-year-old Canadian discovered the sport through Netflix's Drive to Survive during the Covid-19 pandemic, when a cancelled work placement left her searching for new opportunities.

Studying engineering at the University of Waterloo, Sullivan became fascinated by F1's technical aspects after binge-watching the series with her sister. A university project on F1 followed, then internships, leading to a placement at Williams' Oxfordshire headquarters in 2021. 'It was a big pivot,' Sullivan said, noting her friends and family were surprised by her new career direction.

Sullivan's journey reflects F1's growing appeal to younger, more diverse audiences. Female fans now represent 42% of the sport's viewership, up from 8% in 2017, with 57% of new fans in 2025 under 35. Williams has championed diversity, with female representation in the team rising from 9% to 19.5% under Claire Williams' leadership. Sullivan credits role models like her mother and sister for building her confidence in a male-dominated field, though she notes 'there is definitely still a lot more growth that needs to happen.'