“Women would never excel in Formula 1″– this is according to Formula One Management supremo Bernie Ecclestone back in 2005.
Cue: Susie Wolff, the 30 year old Scot who has risen from Karting, Formula Renault, Formula 3, and DTM, and now landing the role of Development Driver at WilliamsF1. Wolff set the 9th overall fastest time at 1:35.093 on the third and final day of the Young Drivers Test in Silverstone, besting both Catherhams, a Toro Rosso, a Sauber, and two the Marrusia cars. Comparing that to WilliamsF1 driver Pastor Maldonado who clocked in 1:34.116 on day 2. Susie’s performance was quite impressive; she drove for 89 laps, which is nearly equivalent to two full GP’s and only went off track once, in Beckkets.
For her to be the next female driver in Formula 1 since the 1970s, she would have to apply for a “superlicense”, which costs around Euro 10,000 plus Euro 1,000 per subsequent world championship point. As one journalist puts it, her husband Toto Wolff, who happens to be the Motorsports Director of rival the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team, would surely pay for it. But Susie quickly countered that she pays for her own “racing stuff”.
So will we see another female on the F1 grid soon?
Most likely!
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