14/01/2016
NEWS STORY
Bernie Ecclestone has said the idea of a woman taking part in F1 "would not be taken seriously".
His comment comes days after the death of the first woman to contest a Grand Prix, Maria Teresa De Filippis, who participated in 3 Grands Prix in 1958 and 1959.
It could have been more, however at two events, including Monaco 1958, she failed to qualify, as did a certain B. C. Ecclestone.
Asked if he envisaged a woman racing in F1 any time soon, he told The Sports Network: "I doubt it. If there was somebody that was capable they wouldn't be taken seriously anyway, so they would never have a car that is capable of competing.
"There was a girl that was driving in GP3 for a whole season," he added, referring to Alice Powell in 2012, "so it is not something that hasn't happened."
Asked if it would happen "in the main event", however, he replied: "No, I don't think so."
Unfortunately, Ecclestone, who is known to be the driving force behind (Lotus development driver) Carmen Jorda's efforts to make it in the sport, made his comment at a time Susie Wolff is launching her "Dare to be Different" initiative, which is aimed as assisting women in motorsport.