Photo: stirlingmoss.com
Former British driver Sir Stirling thinks women lack the “mental aptitude” to win Formula One races, although they have the physical strength to handle racing cars.
"I think they have the strength, but I don't know if they've got the mental aptitude to race hard, wheel-to-wheel. The mental stress I think would be pretty difficult for a lady to deal with in a practical fashion. I just don't think they have aptitude to win a Formula One race,” said Moss in a BBC Radio 5 interview.
Despite being based on the fact that only five women have raced in grand prix so far, Stirling Moss’ comment angered William’s development female driver Susie Wolff.
"I completely disagree with him. It makes me cringe hearing that. I’ve got a lot of respect for Sir Stirling and what he achieved, but I think we're in a different generation. For Moss, it's unbelievable that a female would drive a Formula One car, which is fair enough. In the days they were racing, every time they stepped into a car, they were putting their life on the line. But F1 is much more technologically advanced, it's much safer than it was”, Wolff said.
The last woman to actually race race in Formula 1 was Italian driver Lella Lombardi, who was the only one to score a point in her 12 starts, between 1974 and 1976. Earlier in 1958, Maria Teresa de Filippis became the first lady to race in Formula 1. The other three females that entered events, but never started off the grid, were Divina Galica, Desire Wilson and Giovanna Amati, the latter doing so for Brabham in 1992.
Despite being based on the fact that only five women have raced in grand prix so far, Stirling Moss’ comment angered William’s development female driver Susie Wolff.
"I completely disagree with him. It makes me cringe hearing that. I’ve got a lot of respect for Sir Stirling and what he achieved, but I think we're in a different generation. For Moss, it's unbelievable that a female would drive a Formula One car, which is fair enough. In the days they were racing, every time they stepped into a car, they were putting their life on the line. But F1 is much more technologically advanced, it's much safer than it was”, Wolff said.
The last woman to actually race race in Formula 1 was Italian driver Lella Lombardi, who was the only one to score a point in her 12 starts, between 1974 and 1976. Earlier in 1958, Maria Teresa de Filippis became the first lady to race in Formula 1. The other three females that entered events, but never started off the grid, were Divina Galica, Desire Wilson and Giovanna Amati, the latter doing so for Brabham in 1992.
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