The Problem with Susie Wolff
There's a good few drivers in F1 at the moment who are there for the reasons mentioned in the article, Susie will just be another one. Toto has to get something back for his shares.
I just saw her presentation. She may not be in the top 1%, but she's very impressive. Matt Image Unavailable, Please Login
too old too late, at her age the one still in F1 are on their peak or at least still fast i would like to see a female in F1, who wouldn't lol
Susie Wolf is no different than two thirds of the other participants on the F-1 grid these days. The need for money (or PR exposure) over talent boat sailed a long time ago. Nothing should surprise us any more. All I need do is illustrate how a driver the calibre of Tom Kristensen, who had made winners of sub-par teams during his early days, tested F-1 Williams and Jaguar cars for Michelin where he never put a wheel wrong after tens of thousands of kilometers of testing and each and every one of the engineers who he drove from claimed he was the best driver they'd ever worked with (these are engineers who worked with the likes of Senna, Mansell, Piquet, etc.). But, still he doesn't get a look-in at F-1. If Susie Wolf can hold her own in F-1, more power to her. BHW
I used to watch her in DTM, but she never amounted to much. She's a very nice woman though, and when she does commentating I really like her insight. She did a test with Williams last year and kept up with the pack, but it'll never be more than that.
A near quote from a 1963 Movie "Grand Prix":: "There are only about a dozen men qualified to drive a Formula One car in the world today" Sadly, this is till the truth; what makes it worse is that there are 22 seats available.
A woman would have to be pretty impressive in lower formulae to be considered as a likely F1 driver. So far that has never happened. When I will see a woman dominate male drivers and win championships in F3, F3000, for example, then I will believe in her chances; so far that has never happened. F1 teams seem to bring women as third or test drivers as a PR stunt, or to please some sponsors maybe. Susie Wolf, just like Maria de Vilotta before, or Cathereine Legge don't seem to have a chance to graduate to a drive. What's the point? The hunt for a woman champion is still on.
What do I think? 1) It's up to Williams who they put in their car and nobody else's. If they're happy to have Susie Wolff drive the car then that's all that matters. Others don't like it/her? - Tough ****! 2) She's only driving in two practice sessions in a 19 race season, it's not as though she's taking a race seat from anyone. 3) She wasn't any great shakes in DTM? - So what? Past performances in other race series' are no guarantee of success or failure in F1! Plenty of drivers who have had great success in other race series' have failed to make the grade in F1. By the same token, there are cases of drivers who have been mediocre at best in other race series' but have proved to be good F1 drivers. 4) She's only got the drive because of her F1 connections? - Well boo ****ing hoo! Life is unfair!, the World is unfair!, and the F1 World is one of the most unfair you'll ever find! The F1 World is one where money trumps talent, almost every time. It's a World where who you know can be more important than what you know. It's a World where deals are made are based on far more criteria than talent alone. All of that is true for every driver either in F1 or attempting to get into F1, whether they be male or female! 5) Frankly, that whole a̶r̶t̶i̶c̶l̶e̶ rant against Susie Wolff struck Me as being a bit too personal, and a bit pathetic! There are plenty of male drivers who have been a part of F1 who were not good enough. There are plenty of male drivers who are a part of F1 who are not good enough. And there are plenty of male drivers who are trying to get into F1 who are not good enough. Yes there are probably are other drivers with more talent than Susie Wolff that won't get the chance that she's got in F1, and there'll be plenty of other drivers with the same amount of talent or less talent than she's got who will get the chance that she's got. That's just how the World of F1 works! Like I say, the World of F1 is unfair! - Live with it, because like it or not, you'll never change it!
Big deal, so what? Like all drivers make it to F1 based on their talent and ability alone. I can't imagine all the great talent that got passed over because they didn't have the right connections or tonnes of money backing them. Why all the fuss now? With the money involved, if a team wants to risk going with a less experienced driver with great marketing potential in hopes of building them up to a mid pack level, well that's their foot to shoot.
I'm shocked! Shocked I say that such a thing could happen in F1. Someone needs to focus on the bigger picture.
Susie seems to be about as talented as Katherine Legge, which is to say she's pretty good but maybe not good enough to be a competitive Formula One driver. She being with Williams is not much more than a publicity stunt. Simona DeSilvestro however is quite impressive. I think we should keep an eye on her. As much as I hate losing her in Indycars, she could end up being the first real decent female formula one driver in a long time.
Try that girl that was driving herbie..she looked ok, and she got a role in "machete" so she must be good!!!
Sadly, you are correct. To many $$ drivers in F1. While reading the article, felt like Danica's name could be inserted when Susie's name was used.
Richard Petty's quotation was, "Danica can only win if the men don't race." I don't mind being called a sexist, because that's what realists are called in these times, but there are plenty of things no women do well. Female equivalent of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, or Rembrandt? None. Female equivalent of Bach, Mozart, or Beethoven? None. Female equivalent of Newton, Einstein or Hawking? None. Racing at the highest levels may be the same. Cheers, George
Can't say I am impressed with her driving record, but I did interview her for my travel guide to Germany. Very nice person. Approachable and accommodating.
He didn't even say that. He said if everyone else stayed home. I don't think the King is wrong. There are a few female drivers better than Danica will ever be that don't get the chances she gets continuously. I actually think Susie Wolff is better than Danica as well.
By the same token, there have been plenty of male drivers who have done just as poorly as Danica whilst racing in the same series as she has, and there are plenty drivers who have done a damn sight worse whilst racing in the same series as she has. It seems funny to Me that Richard Petty feels a need to give his opinion on Danica's chances of ever winning a race but doesn't mention the fact that plenty of male drivers stand just as little chance of winning, and that in fact, some male drivers stand even less chance of winning a race than she does! - I guess it must just be too hard for Richard Petty to admit that there are some male drivers who aren't even as good as a female driver!
