Williams F1 team drivers Valtteri Bottas, Pastor Maldonado, and Susie Wolff during the visit of the ‘Olympics - Past and Present’ exhibition at Al Riwaq Doha exhibition space yesterday. PICTURE BY: KAMMUTTY VP
BY DENZIL PINTO
DOHA: Williams’ Development Driver Susie Wolff is unfazed at gender comments made by British racing legend Stirling Moss, who recently caused a media stir when he said ‘women lacked the mentality to succeed in Formula One’.
Moss said in a BBC interview: “I think they have the strength, but I don’t know if they’ve got the mental aptitude to race hard, wheel-to-wheel.”
During the same interview, Moss added: “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. 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.”
Wolff, who said it was ‘difficult’ answering gender questions, pointed out that women could prove Moss wrong if they remained motivated enough to succeed.
The Briton, who visited the Aspire Academy facilities with fellow Williams Formula One drivers Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas yesterday, said: “I think everyone is aware that people are entitled to their own opinions and there are many (people) who feel a woman should compete in Formula One but many believe it may never be possible. But in some parts of the generation, you put yourself in a car and you put your life at risk and things move on.”
The 30-year-old, who started her career in kart racing in 1996, added: “I am not doing what I am doing to prove a point or to try and show that women in Formula One can succeed. I am simply a racing driver who is trying to chase a dream, and the same dream that every racing driver wants - to sit in a Formula One car. So for me, it is difficult to cope with the gender questions because I think to succeed in any sport, you have to be good and fast talented, whatever you have to do in sport. It does not always come down to gender.”
When asked about what she first thought of Moss’ comments, Wolff replied: “I hear comments like that all the time. The gender questions will be there, and there will always be a stereotype that women cannot drive. It is up to me to follow my path and prove the critics wrong.”
Tough to replicate Grand Prix win, says Maldonado
DOHA: Pastor Maldonado, the Williams Formula One driver, believes it will be difficult to replicate his stunning victory at the Spanish Grand Prix last year on May 12.
Maldonado said: “It is difficult to say. I think this year is a bit more difficult than last year especially with the car performance. But you never know. The (upgrade) package can put us in a good way, in terms of team positions and we need to work everything together.”
He added: “This year is quite difficult in Formula One because you have new tyres, new changes and have to put everything together which is not easy.”
With Williams yet to score a single point in their four races so far this season, the Venezuelan said he is hungry to achieve success. “There are still many races to go,” the 28-year-old said.
“We’re a bit disappointed because we have not scored any points at the moment. But, I am really looking forward to these situations where you are not scoring points, it makes you strong and it makes you hungrier to do your best. We are experiencing difficult times but we have 400 to 500 people working flat out to improve our performance and pretty soon we hope to get to where we want to be,” Maldonado said. Meanwhile, Maldonado’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas said he is happy with his performances so far but is eager to improve.
The Finnish driver, who made his debut in Formula One at the Australian Grand Prix last month, said: “I really want to raise my game. I learnt a lot of things in the first four races.”
He added: “It’s been a good start to my Formula One season - I am quite happy, but I do feel there is room for improvement.”
The 23-year-old said the Aspire Academy facilities are ‘impressive’ and wishes to visit again.
“The facilities are very impressive,” he said. “This is the first time I visited Aspire. I have never seen anything like this. I want to look at my calendar so that I can come and train here.”
THE PENINSULA
