Susie Wolff sees a female race driver within 10 years
Interviewed by the BBC, Susie Wolff, Williams development driver, expressed her belief that a woman will be able to establish herself in F1 in the next ten years.
One of the novelties of this 2012 season is the return of women drivers in the paddock. Indeed, since Giovanna Amati in 1992, no woman had been hired, even in the position of test driver, by a Formula 1 team.
Whether it was for Maria de Villota at Marussia or Susie Wolff at Williams, the announcement of their appointment as development drivers was generally received stoically by F1 observers, given their results in the junior formulas, and even more so for the Scot, as one of the major shareholders of her new employer is none other than her husband, Toto Wolff.
A month ago, we revisited the chances of each of them reaching the pinnacle of motorsport. Since then, the driver currently competing in DTM stated in an interview with the BBC that it could happen sooner than expected. And although she considers that it would take an enormous leap of faith from a team to give a woman a chance, Susie Wolff believes there is a demand for it: Formula 1 expects it, and many people involved in F1 would like it to happen.
This could even, according to her, pave the way for others. Once the first one makes her entrance again, it will open up additional possibilities for the next ones to get there, she believes, before arguing: One of the problems we have is that young girls interested in racing don’t have an idol to look up to. A little boy might want to become the next Sebastian Vettel, while a girl finds no inspiration in that.
And when asked if it could take up to 10 years at most, her answer is unequivocal: « Without a doubt. […] Being a woman in a man’s world is sometimes very hard, but if you have a passion for racing, if you are determined and focused on your goals, you carve your path and overcome obstacles ».
Obstacles that, although mentalities are evolving in the right direction, are often prejudices: « Of course there are prejudices, because there aren’t many women in motorsports, and even fewer who succeed. […] The same questions keep coming up: “Can you park your car in the garage?”, “Where do you put your lipstick in the car?”. I think this will slowly change, even if it will take a little while ».
For her part, after having molded her seat last week, Susie Wolff will finally take the wheel of the FW34 this summer during a straight-line private test session.
