British racing legend Stirling Moss does not believe that women are mentally tough enough to compete in F1, despite the presence of female test drivers and team principals.
“I think they have the strength but I don’t know if they’ve got the mental aptitude to race hard, wheel-to-wheel. 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 Formula 1 race,” Moss told BBC radio in an interview to be broadcast on Monday.
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.
“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,” the 30-year-old said.
Only five women have ever raced in F1 and only one has scored a point.