'I know, let's copy Marussia!'

[Ataxia]

'Good plan, let's ask Toto. His wife's a woman, you know...'

http://en.espnf1.com/williams/motorsport/story/75298.html

Smacks a little of publicity stunt. She's not really gonna have time to test the car...

[Faustus]

Pointless, isn't it?

[Ataxia]

Exactly. They've already got Bottas, and even he doesn't get time to test the car.

I wonder where the paychecks go, as well...

[S951]

2 lady drivers what is the world coming to! next thing we know jos verstappen will come out as a reformed wife beater loving flowers n stuff

[eurobrun]

What a waste of time.

[Klon]

Hey, stop Pic-ing on her - she made the points twice in DTM. Surely that qualifies her as a top-tier racing driver.

[DanielPT]

Hey, stop Pic-ing on her - she made the points twice in DTM. Surely that qualifies her as a top-tier racing driver.

Scoring points in DTM is far more impressive than anything Maria de Villota made.

[Faustus]

Hey, stop Pic-ing on her - she made the points twice in DTM. Surely that qualifies her as a top-tier racing driver.

Scoring points in DTM is far more impressive than anything Maria de Villota made.

Good point. Especially in the older-spec car that she had. She scored 4 times the number of points that Coulthard managed.

[Ferrarist]

Hey, stop Pic-ing on her - she made the points twice in DTM. Surely that qualifies her as a top-tier racing driver.

Scoring points in DTM is far more impressive than anything Maria de Villota made.

Good point. Especially in the older-spec car that she had. She scored 4 times the number of points that Coulthard managed.

But she made her first points in her fifth-season (!), and only when some (Lausitzring 2010) or half (Hockenheim-II 2010) of the top drivers crashed out. But hey, at least she might achieve one of the most unique career paths in Formula One. Marrying the team's shareholder!

[CoopsII]

Well I had to look up what "recusing" meant but its nice to see Bernie taking a break from feeling brutal oppression is a nice backdrop for a Grand Prix to engage in a bit of mindless sexism "If Susie is as quick in a car as she looks good out of a car then she will be a massive asset to any team".

Oh Bernie, go home. Alone.

[Faustus]

Well I had to look up what "recusing" meant but its nice to see Bernie taking a break from feeling brutal oppression is a nice backdrop for a Grand Prix to engage in a bit of mindless sexism "If Susie is as quick in a car as she looks good out of a car then she will be a massive asset to any team".

Oh Bernie, go home. Alone.

Bernie, you old smoothie.

[Stramala]

Ah, the perks of sleeping with one of the major shareholders...

Not the first time something along these lines happened. Christijan Albers married the daughter of Skyper F1's chief financier and it kept his drive above Giedo van der Garde's $3 million

[East Londoner]

Ah, the perks of sleeping with one of the major shareholders...

Not the first time something along these lines happened. Christijan Albers married the daughter of Skyper F1's chief financier and it kept his drive above Giedo van der Garde's $3 million

Until Albers decided to test the aerodynamic efficiency of a fuel rig attached to the car

[FMecha]

I think they deserves a place here.

[AndreaModa]

Exactly. They've already got Bottas, and even he doesn't get time to test the car.

I wonder where the paychecks go, as well...

Not strictly true as Bottas is getting a fair bit of Friday running this year, so I'd expect to see him in driving full-time for 2013.

[dr-baker]

Well I had to look up what "recusing" meant but its nice to see Bernie taking a break from feeling brutal oppression is a nice backdrop for a Grand Prix to engage in a bit of mindless sexism "If Susie is as quick in a car as she looks good out of a car then she will be a massive asset to any team".

Oh Bernie, go home. Alone.

I managed to get Susie's autograph at Brands in 2010:


I see and understand where Bernie is coming from (meaning, "I hope she really does prove to be an asset to Williams!"), but that type of comment phrased that way does belong to the James Hunt era.

So do either Maria de Villota or Susie Wolff stand a realistic chance to get an F1 race? I doubt it, but hope they get a genuine chance, based not on gender but on displaying some sort of talent in testing an F1 car.

[dr-baker]

By the way, does Susie Wolff qualify for an F1 Superlicence?

[Backmarker]

By the way, does Susie Wolff qualify for an F1 Superlicence?

Presumably not, but it's so rare that drivers are refused super licences, especially someone of her age and experience. It happened to Loeb just because the FIA didn't want him to drive, and Bas Leinders was because he hadn't done enough miles...and because the FIA didn't like him. In the case of Wolff the FIA will be falling over themselves to have a woman driving in F1, so it will be a formality.

[Klon]

The biggest problem I have with Ecclestone's comment is that she isn't that hot - so it's just hyping her appearance for the sake of hyping it.

[CoopsII]

The biggest problem I have with Ecclestone's comment is that she isn't that hot - so it's just hyping her appearance for the sake of hyping it.

Read it again then do a Bow Chicka Wow Wow to yourself in your head

[Cynon]

NASCAR driver James Buescher's career has been extended because he's the son-in-law of the owner of Turner Motorsports. If he didn't marry the owner he wouldn't have an opportunity to win the Nationwide race at Daytona this year...

But I think Ecclestone's comments here basically cement the fact that he wants Danicamania (anyone who has watched one of ESPN's NASCAR broadcasts with Danica in the field knows what I'm talking about) or damn-close-enough in Formula 1.

[Wizzie]

Alonso and Schumacher give their opinion on the deal

[DanielPT]

Alonso and Schumacher give their opinion on the deal

From the moment you first mentioned that site here last year, that I have been visiting it two or three times a week. It is just too damn good!

[Yannick]

So many statements about this are out there but what did she say about this opportunity herself?

What will she get from this status? One day of straight line testing? Access to the Williams F1 simulator?

Is this move meant to wind up stock market investor's fantasies?

It definitely belongs in the "Big News in F1" segment of the next podcast - if ever there was a bigger news in F1!

[CoopsII]

What will she get from this status? One day of straight line testing? Access to the Williams F1 simulator?

By the sound of it she can expect to get goosed by Bernie at some point.

[AndreaModa]

What will she get from this status? One day of straight line testing? Access to the Williams F1 simulator?

By the sound of it she can expect to get goosed by Bernie at some point.

Well, he's been on the prowl ever since Slavica upped sticks a while ago!

[DanielPT]

What will she get from this status? One day of straight line testing? Access to the Williams F1 simulator?

By the sound of it she can expect to get goosed by Bernie at some point.

Well, he's been on the prowl ever since Slavica upped sticks a while ago!

And she could certainly get a full time contract with first driver status if eventually accepts that 'deal'!

[pablo_h]

Is she the daughter of Paul Stoddart?
I've heard of her and that's the only reason I might have cared. But since no one mentioned it, it might not be the case?

[Shizuka]

No, she isn't.

[Waris]

Well I had to look up what "recusing" meant but its nice to see Bernie taking a break from feeling brutal oppression is a nice backdrop for a Grand Prix to engage in a bit of mindless sexism "If Susie is as quick in a car as she looks good out of a car then she will be a massive asset to any team".

Oh Bernie, go home. Alone.

This, totally.

Also, this whole thing is so embarrassing it would make Jean-Luc Picard facepalm. And I'm kind of disappointed no one has made a joke referencing Wolf-Williams (of 1977) yet, but I guess no one remembers that.

[CoopsII]

Klon wrote:The biggest problem I have with Ecclestone's comment is that she isn't that hot - so it's just hyping her appearance for the sake of hyping it.

Indeed. In fact, if anything, she reminds me of Barrichello in this picture and thats not something I want see across the pillows.

[Waris]

Now you're being a bit sexist yourself, wouldn't you say, CoopsII?

[dr-baker]

Only once have I ever approached an active racing driver and obtained their autograph. That photo above is that moment. Draw your own conclusions.



Yes, that's right. I live in Europe and so I have not had many opportunities to get their autographs.

EDIT: Wait, I did also get Anthony Davidson's once, but I'm not sure what happened to it. Queued to get Stirling Moss and Mansell, but did not get them. And once got Paul Stewart after he quit racing.

[CoopsII]

Now you're being a bit sexist yourself, wouldn't you say, CoopsII?

Im not the right person to answer that, but I didnt read Klons initial comment as such. I thought it was just Klons opinion and I agreed with it.

[dr-baker]

Klon wrote:The biggest problem I have with Ecclestone's comment is that she isn't that hot - so it's just hyping her appearance for the sake of hyping it.

Indeed. In fact, if anything, she reminds me of Barrichello in this picture and thats not something I want see across the pillows.

To be honest, for once, I agree with Bernie. And she didn't even appear in the dream referred to in my signature!