Former Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn has revealed a remarkable career crossroads, admitting she turned down a serious offer to switch from alpine skiing to Formula One racing. This disclosure comes in the wake of her recent dramatic crash during the women's downhill final at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which resulted in a fractured leg and required her to be airlifted from the course.
From Slopes to Circuit: A Path Not Taken
The 41-year-old American icon, who retired from professional skiing in 2019 but made a celebrated return in late 2024, shared that during her initial retirement period in 2020, she was presented with a concrete opportunity to test her skills in motorsport. As a Red Bull-sponsored athlete for two decades, Vonn was offered the chance to pursue a career in Formula One, but the stringent conditions attached to the contract ultimately led her to decline.
Restrictive Terms Halted F1 Ambitions
"I was thinking about switching and going to Formula One and trying to be a driver, but I couldn't because they wanted me to commit to three years and they were like: 'You can't get pregnant and you can't do anything,'" Vonn explained in an interview with In Depth with Graham Bensinger. She added, "And I'm like, 'I don't know if I really want to do that.' That was definitely going to be something that would be very exciting for the person I am."
Vonn also highlighted the vast financial disparity between the two sports, noting, "The amount of money Formula One has is just... I think probably the salary of one racer is the total amount of money that ski racing has for their annual budget as a sport!"
Olympic Comeback Ends in Crash
This revelation follows Vonn's courageous return to competition at the Milan Cortina Games, where she was considered a potential medal contender despite tearing her ACL just prior to her fifth Winter Olympics. Competing for Team USA, her comeback was tragically cut short during the women's downhill final on Sunday when she suffered a severe crash. Medical reports confirmed she fractured her leg but was in stable condition following the incident.
High-Speed Experiences on Track and Road
Despite declining the professional F1 offer, Vonn has experienced high-speed driving firsthand. She recounted driving on the Formula One track in Spielberg, Austria, and admitted to a tendency to "go a little too fast on the corners and I would spin out." Additionally, she shared an anecdote about maxing out a vehicle on the German autobahn with fellow Olympic champion Maria Hofl-Reisch, reaching speeds of 130mph in an Audi R8.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games continue through February 22, with extensive live coverage available on discovery+ via Prime Video, offering fans over 850 hours of action.
