30/03/2015
NEWS STORY
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.