Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Susie Wolff defends Ecclestone after women racer remarks

Published 04/20/2016, 01:35 PM
Updated 04/20/2016, 01:35 PM
© Reuters. British Grand Prix 2015

© Reuters. British Grand Prix 2015

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - British racer Susie Wolff has defended Bernie Ecclestone after he doubted whether women would physically be able to drive a Formula One car fast and in any case would not be taken seriously.

The comments by the sport's 85-year-old commercial supremo caused a storm on social media, with women racers quick to condemn him, but Wolff felt they need to be put into perspective.

"After hearing Bernie's comments in context and speaking to him today, it's clear we both have the goal of getting a female driver to F1," the Scot, wife of Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff, said on Twitter.

"Through my years in motorsport, he was supportive of my mission to make it onto the starting grid in F1," added Wolff, who in 2014 became the first woman driver in 22 years to take part in a Formula One grand prix weekend when she drove in Friday practice at Silverstone for Williams.

No woman has raced in Formula One since 1976.

Wolff, now retired from racing, said Ecclestone had agreed last week to support her 'Dare to be Different' initiative to encourage more women into motorsport.

"For me, actions always speak louder than words...Bernie is with us," she added.

Ecclestone, who has made derogatory comments in the past about women and is no stranger to controversy, was interviewed by WPP (LON:WPP) chief executive Martin Sorrell at an Advertising Week Europe conference on Tuesday.

His comment that "I don’t know whether a woman would be able physically to drive a Formula One car quickly, and even if they could they are never going to be taken seriously" was widely reported.

A full recording of the interview, posted later on the conference website (advertisingweek.eu) showed, however, that Ecclestone had also made some more supportive comments that went largely unreported.

"Today I would love and I would help to get a lady in a Formula One car," he said.

© Reuters. British Grand Prix 2015

Asked what he would say to a sponsor putting up backing for an all-female team, he replied: "Great. I'd put another $20 million in to make sure it happened."

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.