The first female F1 driver in over 20 years?

[good_Ralf]

Besides it's only a YDT so Di Resta might not be running like the others are. He's assumed the role of Nick Heidfeld somewhat ie: He's quietly accumalated results without being mostly spectacular (apart from that mammoth stint in Canada) and on a very good day he gets a top 5. good-ralf i like to make the odd jab at Di Resta mostly because of his personality not because i hate him but even i'm not fooled by this.

Understood. I've also had that idea about PDR being the next Nick Heidfeld, although he can actually race as evidenced at Silverstone and his ding-dong with Hamilton, while Heidfeld hardly did any of that. Also di Resta might end up hanging out at the same midfield team for a few years like Heidfeld and then he ends up in some decent cars, scoring points and podiums and possibly a few wins. Personally, I dislike none of the drivers it's just di Resta is a person who is overhyped way too much.

[watka]

Dr Baker, some things never change. Did you ever get around to marrying Tamara Ecclestone?

Yes, some things never change. MotoGP still sucks.

My enemy lives on!

What's with the basketball avatar?

[Alextrax52]

How does everyone think Susie is doing at the moment?

Day Three timesheet @ 12.39pm
1. Sutil, Force India, 1:33.415, 40 laps; 2. Sainz, Red Bull, 1:33.546, 35 laps; 3. Massa, Ferrari, 1:33.624, 49 laps; 4. Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:33.647, 16 laps; 5. Prost, Lotus, 1:33.739, 35 laps; 6. Van der Garde, Caterham, 1:35.155, 65 laps; 7. Sato, Sauber, 1:35.642, 33 laps; 8. Wolff, Williams, 1:35.704, 31 laps; 9. Paffett, McLaren, 1:36.284, 6 laps; 10. Gonzalez, Marussia, 1:36.339, 24 laps.

[good_Ralf]

How does everyone think Susie is doing at the moment?

Day Three timesheet @ 12.39pm
1. Sutil, Force India, 1:33.415, 40 laps;
2. Sainz, Red Bull, 1:33.546, 35 laps;
3. Massa, Ferrari, 1:33.624, 49 laps;
4. Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:33.647, 16 laps;
5. Prost, Lotus, 1:33.739, 35 laps;
6. Van der Garde, Caterham, 1:35.155, 65 laps;
7. Sato, Sauber, 1:35.642, 33 laps;
8. Wolff, Williams, 1:35.704, 31 laps;
9. Paffett, McLaren, 1:36.284, 6 laps;
10. Gonzalez, Marussia, 1:36.339, 24 laps.

OK, but inconclusive. She is marginally slower than a Sauber, which is where the Williams is at races. But then she was more than two seconds slower than established drivers Sutil and Massa and also behind an F1 Reject-to-be in a Caterham.

[CoopsII]

How does everyone think Susie is doing at the moment?

Id confidently expect Dr Baker to think she's doing a sensational job. And that she tastes fantastic

[Alextrax52]

Here's where Susie stands in the ranking at the moment

The fastest times at this week’s Young Driver Test
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:32.894.
Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:32.972.
Carlos Sainz, Toro Rosso, 1:33.016.
Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1:33.187.
Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:33.242.
Nicolas Prost, Lotus, 1:33.256.
Carlos Sainz, Red Bull, 1:33.546.
Davide Valsecchi, Lotus, 1:33.554.
Kevin Magnussen, McLaren, 1:33.602.
Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:33.624.
Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:33.647.
Paul Di Resta, Force India, 1:33.774.
Felix Da Costa, Red Bull, 1:33.821.
Oliver Turvey, McLaren, 1:33.864.
James Calado, Force India, 1:33.957.
Davide Rigon, Ferrari, 1:34.053
Daniel Juncadella, Williams, 1:34.098.
Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:34.116.
Johnny Cecotto, Toro Rosso, 1:34.193.
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, 1:34.224.
Robin Frijns, Sauber, 1:34. 236.
Susie Wolff, Williams, 1:35.093.
Giedo Van der Garde, Caterham, 1:35.155.
Kimiya Sato, Sauber, 1:35.642.
Alexander Rossi, Caterham, 1:35.651.
Gary Paffett, McLaren, 1:35.675.
Will Stevens, Caterham, 1:36.082.
Rodolfo Gonzalez, Marussia, 1:36.339.
Tio Elinas, Marussia, 1:36.676.
Jules Bianchi, Marussia, 1:36.778.
Max Chilton, Marussia, 1:38.347.

[Backmarker]

Better than Gary Paffett then.

[dr-baker]

How does everyone think Susie is doing at the moment?

Id confidently expect Dr Baker to think she's doing a sensational job. And that she tastes fantastic

I have no idea how she tastes. Would I like to find out? Hmm,

She's not as off the pace as Chanoch Nissany was, and is ahead of the Caterhams, Marussias, Gary Paffett and Kimiya Sato. But a second behind the other two Williams drivers, who have had more time in the car at the time that lap time was set. So not too shabby, but room for improvement...

EDIT: And at the end of today:

Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1m32.894s 79
2. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m33.242s +0.348s 99
3. Nicolas Prost Lotus-Renault 1m33.256s +0.362s 83
4. Carlos Sainz Jr Red Bull-Renault 1m33.546s +0.652s 35
5. Davide Rigon Ferrari 1m33.592s +0.698s 20
6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m33.624s +0.730s 69
7. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m33.647s +0.753s 42
8. Gary Paffett McLaren-Mercedes 1m34.294s +1.400s 77
9. Susie Wolff Williams-Renault 1m35.093s +2.199s 89
10. Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault 1m35.155s +2.261s 85
11. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m35.281s +2.387s 22
12. Charles Pic Caterham-Renault 1m35.576s +2.682s 60
13. Kimiya Sato Sauber-Ferrari 1m35.642s +2.748s 67
14. Rodolfo Gonzalez Marussia-Cosworth 1m36.339s +3.445s 24
15. James Calado Force India-Mercedes 1m36.451s +3.557s 5
16. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth 1m36.744s +3.850s 39

Mid-field, although her time is closer to the back than the front... Didn't put herself to shame by any means, and I reckon from that, that she has done enough mileage today to qualify for a Superlicence?

[Divina_Galica]

How does everyone think Susie is doing at the moment?

Wasn't an embarassment was she?

DG

[DOSBoot]

Mid-field, although her time is closer to the back than the front... Didn't put herself to shame by any means, and I reckon from that, that she has done enough mileage today to qualify for a Superlicence?

Well, with her DTM record, and how she got here.......

[Salamander]

Mid-field, although her time is closer to the back than the front... Didn't put herself to shame by any means, and I reckon from that, that she has done enough mileage today to qualify for a Superlicence?

It's futile comparing Wolff to anyone else but the other Williams drivers. It's impossible to know how the cars compare - Ricciardo was faster in the Toro Rosso on day 2 than with a Red Bull.

Either way, she racked up 524 kilometers today, which I think is enough for a Superlicense...

[Alextrax52]

Mid-field, although her time is closer to the back than the front... Didn't put herself to shame by any means, and I reckon from that, that she has done enough mileage today to qualify for a Superlicence?

It's futile comparing Wolff to anyone else but the other Williams drivers. It's impossible to know how the cars compare - Ricciardo was faster in the Toro Rosso on day 2 than with a Red Bull.

Either way, she racked up 524 kilometers today, which I think is enough for a Superlicense...

She was certainly better than what most of us expected. Nothing special but not downright embarrassing like Nissany all those years ago. She deserves a Superlicence.

BTW did anyone read the Sky Sports comments? If you did then i'm sure a guy called Keith might have irritated you. He hails Vettel like he created the universe.

[Salamander]

She deserves a Superlicence.

No.

I don't care how good she was in one test, it does not change the fact that she has been mediocre at best in her entire career in every form of racing up until now.

73 DTM starts, 4 points, an average finish of 13th when the average amount of starters in a DTM race was less than 20. This is not the record of a driver that belongs in F1.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

Better than I expected but anyone who is almost a second behind GVDG in a clearly superior car really doesn't deserve an F1 chance.

[Sublime_FA11C]

A friday practise session would be a better gauge of competitivnes but even then most drivers go through programmes and stuff like that. We can't tell what parts were on the car or how they compare to previous performance. Several names were out of position, Rigon was ahead of Massa, Magnussen ahead of PDR, etc. Aside from being female she did not stand out, which is kinda what she wanted to do. Prove she deserves equal treatment. My only objection to her maybe getting a seat is that she is not a youngster nor does she have exceptional talent. If she wants to open the doors for other female racers, it would not help to get signed as window dressing.

Since racing isnt a physical competition (it does play a part but relatively minor) i do not care at all if the person behind the wheel is male or female, as long as they're good at it.

[solarcold]

Chanoch Nissany's performance at the Hungaroring 8 years ago raised serious questions about male racing drivers.

QOTY for me.

[solarcold]

Better than I expected but anyone who is almost a second behind GVDG in a clearly superior car really doesn't deserve an F1 chance.

Yea, I believe Calado in a Force India, *cough*who was in the lead during the first day*cough* certainly doesn't deserve an F1 chance.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

Better than I expected but anyone who is almost a second behind GVDG in a clearly superior car really doesn't deserve an F1 chance.

Yea, I believe Calado in a Force India, *cough*who was in the lead during the first day*cough* certainly doesn't deserve an F1 chance.

Calado only did 5 laps on day 3. He is much better than that

[Ataxia]

She deserves a Superlicence.

No.

I don't care how good she was in one test, it does not change the fact that she has been mediocre at best in her entire career in every form of racing up until now.

73 DTM starts, 4 points, an average finish of 13th when the average amount of starters in a DTM race was less than 20. This is not the record of a driver that belongs in F1.

Thank you! Exactly my logic.

I don't want to appear cynical or sexist, but if she was a bloke she'd be nowhere near F1...

[tommykl]

She deserves a Superlicence.

No.

I don't care how good she was in one test, it does not change the fact that she has been mediocre at best in her entire career in every form of racing up until now.

73 DTM starts, 4 points, an average finish of 13th when the average amount of starters in a DTM race was less than 20. This is not the record of a driver that belongs in F1.

Thank you! Exactly my logic.

I don't want to appear cynical or sexist, but if she was a bloke she'd be nowhere near F1...

Except if he/she married Monisha Kaltenborn.

[Enforcer]

She deserves a Superlicence.

No.

I don't care how good she was in one test, it does not change the fact that she has been mediocre at best in her entire career in every form of racing up until now.

73 DTM starts, 4 points, an average finish of 13th when the average amount of starters in a DTM race was less than 20. This is not the record of a driver that belongs in F1.

Thank you! Exactly my logic.

I don't want to appear cynical or sexist, but if she was a bloke she'd be nowhere near F1...

Wolff's time's suggest she's pretty much exactly "meh" as a driver. Williams have spent the whole season only reliably outpacing the Caterhams, Marrusias and Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber, so she seems more or less where that car should be, if you ask me. How many of her detractors were expecting her to prop up the time sheets or be 3 seconds off Maldonado & the other Williams tester?

Plenty of "meh", and worse, drivers have gotten into F1 (Yuji Ide anyone?), and nearly all of them had testicles. Personally, I'd expect whether or not she races in F1 or not to come down to the same factor that dictates whether all 'meh' drivers get in - money.

[Salamander]

Wolff's time's suggest she's pretty much exactly "meh" as a driver. Williams have spent the whole season only reliably outpacing the Caterhams, Marrusias and Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber, so she seems more or less where that car should be, if you ask me. How many of her detractors were expecting her to prop up the time sheets or be 3 seconds off Maldonado & the other Williams tester?

Plenty of "meh", and worse, drivers have gotten into F1 (Yuji Ide anyone?), and nearly all of them had testicles. Personally, I'd expect whether or not she races in F1 or not to come down to the same factor that dictates whether all 'meh' drivers get in - money.

You're missing the point. Everything in Wolff's career suggests that she is a mediocre racing driver. You bring up Ide - at least Ide actually won races in Formula Nippon. Wolff couldn't do that in Formula Renault - it took her the best part of 3 seasons to get a single podium, and only scored 3 more in her 4th. Which, I might add, is her last full season of single seater competition to date. The fact that she's done a broadly acceptable time in a test does not suddenly override the mountain of evidence that suggests she would be a terrible F1 driver.

[good_Ralf]

The fact that she's done a broadly acceptable time in a test does not suddenly override the mountain of evidence that suggests she would be a terrible F1 driver.

At this rate, any woman wouldn't make a decent F1 driver. Lella Lombardi is the only woman to score a point in F1. That was in 1975 and she only scored it because the field was decimated in a chaotic race with multiple incidents and then red-flagged due to a crash that left the driver badly injured. As the race was stopped before the minimum distance was completed, that point became a measly half-point.

F1 is yet to find a woman who can actually threaten the boys.

[Alextrax52]

The fact that she's done a broadly acceptable time in a test does not suddenly override the mountain of evidence that suggests she would be a terrible F1 driver.

At this rate, any woman wouldn't make a decent F1 driver. Lella Lombardi is the only woman to score a point in F1. That was in 1975 and she only scored it because the field was decimated in a chaotic race with multiple incidents and then red-flagged due to a crash that left the driver badly injured. As the race was stopped before the minimum distance was completed, that point became a measly half-point.

F1 is yet to find a woman who can actually threaten the boys.

I'd love to see what Alice Powell could do in an F1 car. That Girl has some serious Talent and can mix it with the guys. Unfortunately she doesn't have a lot of Money when Carmen Jorda who failed to qualify at Silverstone last year is still in the series which is a joke. And also Powell's luck is in the Chris Amon Realm as well.

[girry]

what's 'threaten the boys'? Wolff would be Yuji Ide-esque most probably; however it doesn't mean that there wouldn't be one or two females who could be able to perform respectably in F1 (=aka at least equal van der Garde and SuperChilton, and in midpack equipment could well score occasional points). Even racing currently. Ok, no currently racing female looks like world-champ potential or anything, but that shouldn't be such a surprise that it required announcing.

[dr-baker]

I'm guessing that people on here don't rate Pippa Mann or Katherine Legge too highly either (in fact, I pretty much know it). State-side, Simona de Silvestro has made a decent name for herself in IndyCar, but IndyCar success rarely translates to F1 success (barring Villeneuve and JPM. Oh, and Andretti and Fittipaldi). But what has happened to Natacha Gachnang? You know, Buemi's cousin... Could she have had a decent crack at F1?

[girry]

erm, BOTH Fittipaldis went F1 first, America later....:p

I'd rate Pippa somewhere around Wolff if we're talking road courses. She's done them in a big car at FR3.5 and apparently when things went well, was strong midpack there, usually a backmarker though. Legge I think would be the best of the three older Brits - she was awful at DTM but could pull a good performance once in a while in even fast open wheelers. Would still not give a F1 license though.

Gachnang is the least talented I'd say, F2 is the most similar equipment series you could find and she was just about as good as Plamen Kralev. Not done much elsewhere, either.

Simona is one of the female drivers I would not mind seeing in F1, yeah big success state-side usually doesn't mean big success in F1 but if you're proven you're a respectable driver there (which she has, when low key equipment hasn't been preventing her success), you're usually a respectable driver in Europe too. Hard to think of an example of an ok rated driver coming from there to europe and being total bollocks; so by this logic the Andretti-logic would apply only if we are talking about the best drivers, and we're not. The other would be Danica obviously, road courses never were her strength but she's got a series of midpack results here anyway.

[wsrgo]

Gachnang is the least talented I'd say, F2 is the most similar equipment series you could find and she was just about as good as Plamen Kralev. Not done much elsewhere, either.

She did well in Spanish F3 though, like Regalia. Look how the latter is faring in GP3 now.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

Gachnang is the least talented I'd say, F2 is the most similar equipment series you could find and she was just about as good as Plamen Kralev. Not done much elsewhere, either.

She did well in Spanish F3 though, like Regalia. Look how the latter is faring in GP3 now.

Vicky Piria is a fairly solid midfielder in Spanish F3. And in GP3 she was only marginally faster than Jorda

[CoopsII]

If I was feeling cynical Id point out that Williams could've given Wolffy a car advantage to make her look good.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

If I was feeling cynical Id point out that Williams could've given Wolffy a car advantage to make her look good.

I think that is not beyond the realms of probability. Conspiracy theorists stand up