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Women can't compete in F1 - Moss

British racing legend Stirling Moss does not believe that women are “mentally tough enough” to compete in Formula 1, despite the presence of female test drivers and team principals.

Moss said: "I think they have the strength but I don't know if they've got the mental aptitude to race hard, wheel-to-wheel."

GENERATION GAP

The 83-year-old's comments were met with astonishment from Susie Wolff, who is hoping to compete in F1 and is currently a development driver for Williams.

Wolff said: "I don't know where to start after hearing that interview, ‘Women in F1’. 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 F1 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," she said.

Only five women have ever raced in F1 and only one has scored a point.

F1’S FEMALE DRIVERS

Italian Maria "Lella" Lombardi started 12 races in the 1970s and scored half a point with Brabham.

Her compatriot Giovanna Amati was the last woman to enter a F1 race but failed to qualify for three races in 1992.

Danica Patrick is the most successful woman in motorsport and took pole position in the 2013 Daytona 500 IndyCar race.

The 31-year-old became the first woman to win an IndyCar race in 2008, and in 2010 set the series record for consecutive races finished.

Claire Williams
took over as team principal in 2013, while Monisha Kaltenborn was appointed to head Sauber in 2012.

In 2012, Maria de Villota lost an eye in a crash while testing for Marussia.

Moss, who won 16 F1 races during his career from 1951 to 1961, said he was not surprised that more women had not competed in the sport.

He 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 F1 race."

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone in contrast said there was no reason women should not compete in F1 but said that it was unlikely that female drivers would get the chance with a leading team.

Do you agree or disagree with Sterling Moss' opinion on female F1 drivers? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts on Wheels24!
 
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