Bernie Ecclestone believes a separate series for women drivers would be good for the sport.

As ever, it's difficult - really, really difficult - to know whether the 84-year-old is toying with the media or being deadly serious, or, suggesting one outrageous idea that hasn't a hope of being taken up whilst preparing to push through another equally ludicrous idea that will.

On the back of his call for double points (again) for the final three races, random wet races and points for qualifying - which would see the quickest drivers start from further down the grid - the F1 supremo is now suggesting a separate championship for women.

"I thought it would be a good idea to give them a showcase," he said at the weekend, according to the Daily Telegraph. "For some reason, women are not coming through - and not because we don't want them. Of course we do, because they would attract a lot of attention and publicity and probably a lot of sponsors."

Women racers are keen to make it in to F1 and compete with the men on equal terms, and will therefore probably find the idea of a separate series demeaning and condescending.

This is clearly the view of Susie Wollf, who told the Daily Mirror: "It's most definitely not the right way forward. First of all, I don't know where you'd find a full grid of female drivers who are good enough. Secondly, I have raced my whole career in motorsport as a normal competitor. Why would I ever look for a race where I was only competing against women?

"I can hand on heart say it would not interest me at all to win such a race. I would rather not be in the race because what am I winning? A race where they've just looked for any girl to make a grid up."

Furthermore, and more worrying, is the fact that Ecclestone is considering changing the structure of the GP weekend in order to accommodate such a series - indeed, it is probably a radical overhaul of the weekend that forms the 'smoke and mirrors' part of his cunning plan.

Sadly, as Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari's Sepang victory kicks new life into the sport, its leader appears determined to continue meddling, unable to let the racers, in the cars, factories and garages, provide the real entertainment.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by SideGlance, 02/04/2015 5:33

"I agree with gturner38, many most sports can not be equal but a very well conditioned, conditioned for the actual muscles and stamina for F1 and other auto formulas 'can' be driven by the 'best of the best' just like in F1 for men - which to a very large degree are 'best of the best' male drivers. A 140lb woman can be as good & strong as a male 140lb driver - but the desire and dedication and skill must be there - but too few woman seek this level of driving & maybe us spectators only want 'attractive' woman? But certainly F1 does not have ALL attractive men !! LOL

Woman achieve the skills and strength, you do NOT need your own formula except as a stepping stone to the 'real' F1 - welcome !! Now get working !!!!!!!"

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2. Posted by gturner38, 31/03/2015 20:55

"The reason why most sports need to be segregated at the highest levels of the sport is because size and strength are such key factors. Go down to the local gym and it's possible to find that the best basketball player is a woman. Compare the best of the WNBA to the NBA and they are 6 inches too short and 50 pounds too light with raw talent not being enough to overcome the issue. Motorsports is one of the few arenas where it doesn't make that much difference so long as they are good physical condition. There's no reason why they can't drive the car just as fast, which Susie pretty much demonstrated by being within a couple tenths of Massa despite the lack of track time last year."

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3. Posted by testa rossa, 31/03/2015 18:44

"Nothing wrong with Bernie's idea nearly all sports are divided in men and women"

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4. Posted by Vinicius, 31/03/2015 9:15

"Susie is not interested about winning a race full of women. But who said that she could even win that kind of race? I don't think so."

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5. Posted by Chris SA, 31/03/2015 8:29

"Should rather allow a team to enter a third car that can only be driven by a woman, not receive any extra financial support etc. Wonder if he would have any takers!"

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6. Posted by Chris SA, 31/03/2015 8:24

"An idiotic idea, he should rather fix what he is breaking down."

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7. Posted by Darvi, 31/03/2015 7:25

"Another iditotic idea from Bernie to remove the focus from the fact that he's screwing the sport and has no vision for reviving it. Compare that with Dorna and MotoGP and you'll see one has come through a sticky patch and is now thriving, the other is heading down the toilet with Mr E apparently keen to do the flushing...... "

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8. Posted by Red Baron, 30/03/2015 22:24

"Bernie is really scraping the bottom of the barrel now... like he's forgotten what made the sport so great in the first place. He needs to adopt a 'less is more' attitude and stop trying to force change."

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9. Posted by Tweek, 30/03/2015 20:04

"Double points ..... Bad Bernie! No !
Random wet races..... Top gear already tried that, it didn't work for them. They had a couple puddles in the corners and wasted a bunch of water. Please no Bernie.
Points for qualifying....... Not totally against it, but I don't see it adding anything to the sport.... Wait did he say fastest drivers starting from further down the grid?.?.?.?. That would mean inverting the grid for race starts. Just imagine the sandbagging in qualifying. Dont even think about it Bernie!
Women's F1..... No Bernie, just no. Get Susie a super license and lets get her in a car to see what she can do on track against the boys."

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10. Posted by Jonno, 30/03/2015 18:20

"Inline with Bernie's previous thoughts on the subject of women drivers, the rules would be -

All drivers must wear an apron.
Drivers must exit the car at pitstops and iron a shirt.
Post race interviews will be held over a garden wall.
Teams can only be sponsored by white goods manufacturers.
"

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11. Posted by Editor, 30/03/2015 17:01

"@ Joop deBruin

Short people need pedestals"

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12. Posted by Joop deBruin, 30/03/2015 16:58

"Go away Hobbit. This guy is killing F1, and he's still given a pedestal?"

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13. Posted by HappyHippyBiker, 30/03/2015 15:44

"Actually, this has been an issue I have been at loggerheads with for quite a while. Women have been campaning for equality some time now, but no-one has seriously put forward the case for sexual equality in sports. Why is there still a need for women to be segregated from from men in, for example, the Olymics 100m sprint? If there is a need for sexual equality, then it should be across the board."

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14. Posted by nonickname, 30/03/2015 15:05

"Lets be honest and I am sorry to say this but there is NO area of sport that gives an equal playing field for men and women. The top male/ mens' team in any of the sports categories would annihilate their opposite female counterparts...so what! It is not about inequality or being politically correct, just a fact of life. There are so many areas that men cannot win in, it all balances in the end.Let's not do this stupid comparison in motor sport.
Yes there will be exceptions to what I have said, one of them is Desire Wilson, arguably the best female ever to date, but for the current group...ouch "

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15. Posted by Hondawho?, 30/03/2015 14:12

"1. Posted by Ro, 14 minutes ago
"Well, you're right, we did once have Durex Surtees Team, How about Lilettes? good job men don't use them!

Ro, sorry to say you; you must have missed the statement from Nico Rosburg at the weekend. he uses one in his crash helmet for absorbing the sweat LOL. Needless to say many comments about that one, but, why he felt he needed to tell everyone then could not explain the word in English surely was an embarrassment for the guy!

Could start a whole new industry! Damm just gave BE another business idea!

As far as females racing in F1, well, I have been watching the progress of women's team sports and if you think the grandstands are empty for F1 just take a look at the few who turn up for womens Rugby or other female sports formerly associated with men only! Its BE's way of being modern I assume, just mention you are thinking about it and the subject is then covered!

One thing I do find rather stupid, but I can see his point, is a race creating rain using sprinklers! Now that may be a drop to far.

IMHO two sprint races each of 20-25 laps, and do away with pit stops and endurance type strategy, that would both save money and offer a spectacle as well. That might encourage female racers as well of course.
"

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Ecclestone proposing F1 championship for women

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