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Floersch critical of Ferrari's plan to add a female to its junior academy

Published on 17 Jan 2020 12:17
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By: Fergal Walsh

Sophia Floersch has opposed the plans of Ferrari to link up with a female racer by adding her to the Ferrari Drivers' Academy.

Recently, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto spoke out about his desire to do such, stating that the team is "making sure" that it could happen soon.

“We need to look at the future generation of talent for Ferrari,” said Binotto. “The Academy [is also looking] for women in the future. Women should be part of the Ferrari Academy. That's something on which we are working right now to make sure that it may happen very soon.

However, Floersch believes that female racers shouldn't be added simply for marketing purposes.

“Is this the spirit of modern people?" she wrote on Twitter. "As long as we are just marketing stuff in racing nothing will change. We have to show that we are equal. Proof of concept. Like Michele Mouton"

Mouton is a former rally driver who has four rally wins in her career, as well as 162 rally stage wins.

Floersch competed in the Formula Regional Championship in 2019, finishing the year seventh place in the drivers' standings.

Following her comeback to motorsport after he major crash at the Macau Grand Prix in 2018, she has been nominated for the 'World Comeback of the Year' at the Laureus Awards.

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527

Emphasis on " the way Binotto explained it didn't sound like it was a marketing exercise". Binotto is a team principal, and they tend to say all the right things. Remember any team Calderon was with. Remember Williams and Susie Wolff.

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Jan 18 2020 - 12:28

F1 News Sophia Flörsch

Replies (3)

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
She's right about the general approach of motorsports leadership toward women. However, I gotta say that the way Binotto explained it didn't sound like it was a marketing exercise. The criticism, however, does apply to Alfa Romeo for bringing Tatiana for example. Or the only women championship, and pretty much every women racer that has ever tested in F1. Not a single one has deserved it. I think what Binotto is talking about is actively seeking out women to be on the Academy, which is great so long as they earn it.
- + 0
- Jan 17 2020 - 16:27
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Emphasis on " the way Binotto explained it didn't sound like it was a marketing exercise". Binotto is a team principal, and they tend to say all the right things. Remember any team Calderon was with. Remember Williams and Susie Wolff.
  + 1
  
  Jan 18 2020 - 12:28
- Ram Samartha
  
  Posts: 1,172
  Nothing wrong with a marketing gimmick but still, if a female driver gets an F1, or even F3 seat, it should be based on merit, not gender. It's just the drivers academy so really there's no downside. Good for marketing and good for the sport to see young women getting a chance to compete with young women to prove they deserve a seat like anyone else.
  + 0
  
  Jan 20 2020 - 01:15