Sir Stirling Moss says women lack mental aptitude for Formula 1
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Former British racing driver Sir Stirling Moss believes women do not have the mental skills to race competitively in Formula 1.
Only five women have raced in grands prix and only one has scored a point.
Moss, 83, told BBC Radio 5 live: "I think they have the strength, but I don't know if they've got the mental aptitude to race hard, wheel-to-wheel."
But F1 hopeful Susie Wolff, 30, responded: "I completely disagree with him. It makes me cringe hearing that."
Italian Lella Lombardi was the most prolific female F1 driver, starting 12 races in the 1970s and scoring half a point.
The last woman to enter an F1 grand prix was Italian Giovanna Amati, but she failed to qualify for three races at the start of the 1992 season.
Arguably the most successful woman currently competing in motorsport is American Danica Patrick.
The 31-year-old, who now races in Nascar and took pole at the 2013 Daytona 500, is a former IndyCar Series rookie of the year, holds the record for the most consecutive races finished in the series and in 2008 became the first woman to win an IndyCar race.
Wolff is the latest woman to try and break into Formula 1. The Scot is currently in her second season as development driver for Williams.
Sixteen-time F1 race winner Moss, who was speaking in a BBC Radio 5 live special on women in F1, which airs on Monday at 2130 BST, added that he was "not surprised" there have been so few women in F1.
"The trouble is, when you're racing, it's pretty tiring," said Moss, who is widely regarded as the greatest driver never to have won the F1 world championship.
"We had three-hour races in those days. You needed tremendous concentration. Now races are only one hour and 10 minutes."
Moss feels women have the necessary physical strength to race but thought they would be lacking mentally.
"We've got some very strong and robust ladies, but, when your life is at risk, I think the strain of that in a competitive situation will tell when you're trying to win," he said.
"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 1 race."
Responding to Moss, Wolff told BBC Sport: "I don't know where to start after hearing that interview. 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 1 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."
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, who appears on the BBC Radio 5 live special with Williams F1 deputy team principal Claire Williams, says there is "not really" a chance of a woman joining the sport in the near future.
"There's no reason why a woman shouldn't be able to compete with a man," Ecclestone said.
"Unfortunately, the way things are, I don't imagine a lady will ever get the chance to drive a Red Bull or a Ferrari.
"The only chance is with a lesser team - and they only take someone if they come with a good sponsor. Regretfully, the problem is that many ladies who could compete probably as well as the guys won't get chance."
Wolff responded: "I agree with him. Ferrari and Red Bull take best drivers on the market at the time to go out and win world championships.
"I'm in a position where I'm just trying to get into F1, but I do believe that it's possible for a women to get in, otherwise I wouldn't be doing this."
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Two seventh place finishes in DTM does not an F1 driver make. She married her way in. What sort of example is that to young female drivers?
Try featuring some of the actual good female drivers out there.
Scientist prove Men are physical stronger than Women.
NEWSFLASH!!
Old man suggests Women are different from Men.
ADDENDUM:
Men campaign to play in Womens draw at Wimbledon.
In a statement: "We feel it's only fair, I'm pretty sure we could clean up, and the same prize money for 3 set matches is a better deal. This is really about 'equality' I want women to have that respect"
On a slightly Different Note Susie Wolff has a pretty poor record in the Junior Formulas and any man who had a similar record would not have a career in motor sport.
Gotta love Harry Enfield.
In other news night is expected to follow day.
Also check out who her husband is.
I'm afraid that whilst she is very ambitious there is not really anything to back up her position in an F1 racing team.
Probably doing women more harm than good.
"It doesn't determine risk-taking behaviour"
Err... yes it does. Genetics help define a lot of character traits, especially when it comes to the difference in sexes. Men are more likely to be risk-takers by nature.
Does show how far political correctness has come that even our genetics aren't allowed to show differences!
Susie Wolff has a good track record in motorsport and thoroughly deserves her place on the Williams F1 team.
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A 'good' track record, maybe. But not great, and nowhere near other drivers who are struggling to get into F1 - even just in a test driver capacity.
There are far more drivers deserving of the role than Wolff. That's not sexism. The YDT may shed light on this.
As a society, we need to ensure girls are not prevented from pursuing traditionally male hobbies when young, and vice versa, but we shouldn't assume all career paths should have a natural 50/50 gender split.
This is simply not true. All the teams would be desperate to have a competitive woman driver. Just think of the sponsorship and publicity they would get. They haven't because they are just not fast enough.