Bernie Ecclestone Says F1 Could See Female Drivers Again

It has been 23 years since Formula One, or F1, has seen a female driver on the track. Recently, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that the highest level of motorsport could see female drivers in Grand Prix races in the near future.

Prior to the season-opening race at Albert Park, Ecclestone exclusively spoke with The Independent to talk about the future of F1. Amongst other things, the 84-year-old billionaire talked about the debate on the subject of whether female drivers will be able to participate in F1 Grand Prix races again.

“It is inevitable that there will be another female driver, though the women will never get a fair crack because they will be taken for other reasons,” Ecclestone told The Independent. “Women would be taken for the fact that they can maybe pull in some sponsors.”

The very first woman to ever race in F1 was Italian Maria Teresa de Flippis. She made her debut in 1958 and has participated in five Grand Prix races since then. She has raced for Maserati and Behra-Porsche during her active F1 years. The last race that Flippis took part in was during the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix. Unfortunately, Flippis failed to score championship points in those Grand Prix events that she joined.

Following Flippis’ footsteps was Lella Lombardi, who debuted in 1974. Lombardi was the first and only female F1 driver to score points in an F1 Grand Prix (0.5 points from finishing in sixth place at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix). Lombardi represented March, RAM Racing, and Williams in her F1 career. Flippis has opened the door for other female drivers to pursue a career in F1 such as Divina Galica, Desire Wilson and Giovanna Amati.

More women are getting into F1 in the last few years. Some are even acquiring higher roles such as Monisha Kaltenborn (team principal of Sauber) and Clair Williams (deputy team principal of Williams). In 2012, British Susie Wolff signed with Williams as the team’s development and test driver. This year, Spanish Carmen Jorda inked a contract deal with Lotus F1.

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