Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn has shared how a potential career switch to Formula 1 was derailed by a strict no-pregnancy clause. In a 2020 interview, she described her excitement for motorsport but ultimately chose not to commit to the demanding terms. The revelation comes as she prepares for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina despite a recent knee injury.
Lindsey Vonn, the American alpine skier who won gold in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, has long been associated with Red Bull as a sponsored athlete. As she returns to Olympic competition in Milan-Cortina—her first appearance since PyeongChang 2018—she is competing with a ruptured ACL sustained in a crash during her final pre-Olympics race.
In a 2020 interview on the 'In Depth with Graham Bensinger' program, Vonn recounted her early fascination with speed beyond the slopes. She described driving experiences that fueled her interest in Formula 1, including a session on the Spielberg circuit in Austria. "I drove in Spielberg in Austria on the Formula 1 track," she said.
Vonn also shared a high-speed autobahn drive south of Munich with three-time Olympic skiing champion Maria Hofl-Risch in an Audi R8, reaching 130mph where there was no speed limit. "She was like 'Come on, Lindsey, you’re not going very fast.' Of course, I then had to show her what was up!" Vonn recalled, noting her tendency to spin out on track corners due to aggressive cornering.
The skier seriously considered transitioning to F1, with a career path mapped out. However, the opportunity required a full three-year commitment. "They were like: 'You can’t get pregnant, and you can’t do anything,'" Vonn explained. "And I’m like: 'I don’t know if I really want to do that.'" Despite the allure—"That would have been something that was very exciting for the person I am"—she opted against it, prioritizing her personal life.
This story highlights the intense demands of professional motorsport and Vonn's versatility as an athlete drawn to extreme speeds across disciplines.
