Women lack mental aptitude for Formula 1 - Moss

[nenevomito]

Former British racing driver Sir Stirling Moss believes women do not have the mental skills to race competitively in Formula 1.

BBC news story HERE

So, is it down to lack of metal ability, or is it because like most sports, F1 and other car racing is still male dominated, so women may not have the same opportunities?

[EauRouge]

If G force is an issue then why are there female astronauts?

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I wonder if the design of cars might be part of it. Lots of cars are designed for men, aren't they? Women's bodies are quite different so I imagine that to optimize a woman driver's performance you'd have to do some redesigning and perhaps think outside the box a bit.

[slug]

Actually, women, because of the higher percentage of fluids in their bodies, actually cope better with G Forces than men.

There was a whole parallel female astronaut training programme in the 60's. The American need for 'heroes' (for that read men) in the space programme meant they never made it into space.

[octanegirl]

I have my racing licence. Quite frankly I was amazed that I was able to stop thinking about bunny rabbits, cupcakes and handbags for long enough to pilot the car around the track in the assessment. Do I get a medal?

I think its a numbers thing. Look how many men race and how few make it to F1. Now look at how FEW women race - no wonder there aren't any in F1.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I remember reading about the women astronauts, slug. Though the USSR had a better record (slightly).

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Btw, I am mega impressed and/or jealous of you, octane.

[frosch]

A difference in genetically-programmed attitude to risk, rather than mental ability, I reckon. F1 drivers, in particular, are mentally prepared to win at whatever cost, get in that car and drive as fast as possible. They don't think about possibility of killing themselves when they're in the actual act of racing. Women are more likely to calculate risk and outcome and adjust behaviour accordingly, especially if they've something to protect.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

There were women pilots during wars, at least.

I will admit I know about this because I recently found out that W E Johns, who wrote the Biggles books, also wrote a series of books about a woman pilot during the war, which is fairly similar in tone.

[DeepRedBetty]

Yes, definitely women fighter pilots - don't you remember the 'and finally' bit on the news when a woman finally got to play with the red arrows?

Interesting point about g forces and necks upthread - David Coulthard was talking about it with Lewis Hamilton in the bumf bit before the race yesterday, I was looking at old photos and Coulthard's neck no longer looks like it belongs on a Marvel Superhero! Hamilton was saying that the support in the cockpit of more recent cars is fantastic compared with when he first started.

And second LRD octanegirl - well done - can I come along for a ride one day?

[octanegirl]

Haha - high speed passenger ride applications accepted!

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Oooh! Me first!

So how did you get into it (if you don't mind me asking?). Were you into karting when you were little, or was it something that happened later? I am always a bit jealous of people with this talent as I'd love to have it but have absolutely no spatial awareness so would never be able to fling a car round corners with panache.

[grimbletart]

Interesting to see that within the last 6 months two women have been appointed to senior positions in F1 - Monisha Kaltenborn as principal of the Sauber team and Claire Williams as deputy principal of the Williams team.

OK, not drivers, but I think it is signs of a change in mindset.

[Floralnomad]

At least women have the mental aptitude to not step into an empty lift shaft ! Stupid man .

[frosch]

Monisha Kaltenborn has been around for years. Once saw her approached by a man who assumed that she was a hospitality worker, asked her where the toilet was and if she could fill his coffee whilst he was gone. The look on her face was priceless...

[Frettchen]

' It's all about aptitude, support and exposure which has nothing to do with gender ' - This. What flatmum said.

In order to be good at F1 racing you generally have to have proved yourself at a young age; making a name through the karting championships and the lower Formulas. The vast majority of youngsters showing an interest in making a hobby out of kart-racing are male because cars are still seen as a boys' toy. Until all toys become gender non-specific, we're always going to have a male-dominated race-course (and the same can be said for SO many gender-biased professions - our culture/society is teaching our children that little boys become doctors, lawyers, police officers, pilots, racing drivers, knights, firemen etc and little girls become nurses, princesses, fairies, host tea parties...)

[MrsAyrtonSenna]

Afraid IMHO the documentary last night about Susie Wolff didn't further the cause for women in F1, film was made by her brother and wasn't much better than watching someones boring holiday video ..... very little of real interest or depth discussed.

That's an hour of my life I wont get back sign . She has only got to where she is at Williams because of her husband.

[octanegirl]

LRD I don't know - when I was little I preferred playing with Matchbox cars and horses rather than dolls - was always just interested in cars and bought the fastest ones I could afford from my student days onwards. Once I got to take one on a track...then I learnt what a true adrenaline rush was.
I never went Karting as a child so I'll never make F1! However I'll hopefully win something, somewhere.....

[drjohnsonscat]

It didn't make any sense anyway. I think he lacks the mental skills to put together a coherent thought.

He said they have the strength but not the mental attitude. Actually we all agree they don't have the same strength (on average) as men. As for mental attitude, he seemed to be alluding to the fear factor. Has he ever given birth? Stupid arse.

As for unwillingness to take risk, it actually seems to be rather a low risk sport these days judging by the mortality rates. I'd wager horse riding in which women seem to participate at least as much as men (at least outside of the racing circuit) is more dangerous. And again, the biggest risk I've ever taken in my life (other than ordinary risks like crossing the road which we cannot avoid)? Giving birth.

[bunchamunchycrunchycarrots]

David coulthard has commented on this is the past - found this quote 'He said: ‘There’s no reason at all why women should not race with men. There’s no physical or reaction reason. It just hasn’t happened because more boys get in to it and through that process, it ends up being more men.’

I read this recently after it was reported about his sister dying. He'd also commented elsewhere that his sister was a better driver than he was.

Fuck right off stirlin'

[grimbletart]

David Coulthard

[grimbletart]

Quote from Jenson Button in GQ mag. interview asked about women in F1.

"JB: I don't think they ever get the chance, from an early age. Women don't get the same opportunities that men get in racing, so they don't get to learn race craft."

[grimbletart]

Seems like he changed his mind according to the same interview. At one time he allegedly said they wouldn't do F1 because they were all "moods and boobs"

Now he is saying "that was a long time ago...."

So for that but for changing his mind (unless of course he was desperately trying to extricate himself from his real view...)

[frosch]

grimbletart Having heard a mech refusing to strap in a female driver, saying "I ain't touching that, it's got tits", the 'moods and boobs' quote doesn't surprise me!

[HullMum]

its got tits?