Sir Stirling Moss says women lack mental aptitude for Formula 1


Former British racing driver Sir Stirling Moss believes women do not have the mental skills to race competitively in Formula 1.

Only five women have raced in grands prix and only one has scored a point.

Female drivers in F1


Moss, 83, told BBC Radio 5 live: "I think they have the strength, but I don't know if they've got the mental aptitude to race hard, wheel-to-wheel."

But F1 hopeful Susie Wolff, 30, responded: "I completely disagree with him. It makes me cringe hearing that."

Italian Lella Lombardi was the most prolific female F1 driver, starting 12 races in the 1970s and scoring half a point.


Arguably the most successful woman currently competing in motorsport is American Danica Patrick.

The 31-year-old, who now races in Nascar and took pole at the 2013 Daytona 500, is a former IndyCar Series rookie of the year, holds the record for the most consecutive races finished in the series and in 2008 became the first woman to win an IndyCar race.


Sixteen-time F1 race winner Moss, who was speaking in a BBC Radio 5 live special on women in F1, which airs on Monday at 2130 BST, added that he was "not surprised" there have been so few women in F1.

Moss on racing against Maria Teresa de Filippis

Sir Stirling Moss

"I used to blow a kiss if ever I'd lap her. The good news is she knew there was a race going on around her and she'd keep an eye on her mirrors and she'd always pull over. Her manners and everything were terrific. She was there to drive against us, but quite frankly, we've had some very competent lady drivers but they really haven't been in a winning position in a grand prix."

"The trouble is, when you're racing, it's pretty tiring," said Moss, who is widely regarded as the greatest driver never to have won the F1 world championship.


Moss feels women have the necessary physical strength to race but thought they would be lacking mentally.



Responding to Moss, Wolff told BBC Sport: "I don't know where to start after hearing that interview. I've got a lot of respect for Sir Stirling and what he achieved, but I think we're in a different generation.


F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, who appears on the BBC Radio 5 live special with Williams F1 deputy team principal Claire Williams, says there is "not really" a chance of a woman joining the sport in the near future.

Moss on women competing in F1 in his era

"We welcomed it. We thought the fact ladies came into the sport as a new group of people was a jolly good thing. She [De Filippis] was treated as just another competitor."

"There's no reason why a woman shouldn't be able to compete with a man," Ecclestone said.

"Unfortunately, the way things are, I don't imagine a lady will ever get the chance to drive a Red Bull or a Ferrari.

"The only chance is with a lesser team - and they only take someone if they come with a good sponsor. Regretfully, the problem is that many ladies who could compete probably as well as the guys won't get chance."

Wolff responded: "I agree with him. Ferrari and Red Bull take best drivers on the market at the time to go out and win world championships.

"I'm in a position where I'm just trying to get into F1, but I do believe that it's possible for a women to get in, otherwise I wouldn't be doing this."