HOCKENHEIM, Germany: Susie Wolff (pictured) showed she could mix it with the men and be a fast lady of Formula One yesterday but whether she can break down more barriers remains a question with no easy answer.
“That’s the million dollar question, what comes next?,” she told reporters after completing 22 laps and setting the 15th best time of 22 drivers taking part in first practice at the German Grand Prix.
Wolff’s best time in the Williams usually used by Valtteri Bottas was only two tenths slower than Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa in the team’s other race car. Head of performance engineering Rob Smedley said she did “a really good job, worked well and drove sensibly” but inevitably Wolff wanted more.
At Silverstone, her home race two weeks ago, Wolff had made headlines as the first woman driver to take part in a grand prix weekend in 22 years.
Friday’s session at sweltering Hockenheim was her last opportunity, with the wife of Mercedes motorsport head Toto not currently scheduled to appear in the car again this season, and she was determined to make the most of it.
“It all felt fantastic, the team did such a good job in getting me ready for today,” said the 31-year-old. “Certainly time in the car counts for a lot because the more laps you do the better it feels, and with every lap out there it felt better and better.” REUTERS
