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

  • Published on 17 Jan 2020 12:17
  • comments 3
  • 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.

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

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • 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
    • 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
    • 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

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 03:53

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 03:53

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Dec 1 2000 (24)
  • Place of b. Grünwald, Lower Saxony, Germany, DE
  • Weight 0 kg
  • Length 1.66 m
Show full profile
show sidebar