Carmen Jorda has issued a statement following criticism of her comments on whether women drivers are physically capable of racing in Formula One.
The former GP3 driver said her remarks in which she said women would find it easier to race in Formula E rather than Formula 1 because it was less physically challenging were “reflecting merely on my own personal experience”.
“I am sorry if my comments appeared to speak for all women and created all confusion,” she added.
On Saturday, after testing a Formula E car before the Mexico City E-Prix, I spoke to several journalists about the experience.
During one interview I was asked to compare driving a Formula E car to a Formula 1 car, and then specifically, whether Formula E is easier for women to compete in than Formula 1.
Having some experience of both cars, I gave my personal opinion that driving a Formula E car presents less of a physical challenge than Formula 1, because of the lower downforce.
I also referred to there being ‘a physical issue’ for women in Formula 1, something which has created considerable debate over the last few days – including from many prominent women within our sport. I would like to thank fellow drivers for sharing their opinions, and respect their views greatly. I am sorry if my comments appeared to speak for all women and created all confusion – as I was reflecting merely on my own personal experience.
I never intended to discourage other women from competing at the pinnacle of our sport, or say that they physically cannot. My comments were purely a response to a direct question, asking “do you think Formula E would be easier for women?”.
Separate series for women? No: Girls want to race guysAs a member of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission I am committed to encouraging more women to become involved in our sport – both on and off the track – and celebrating those who are achieving great results.
Is F1 racist against Chinese people? All those years and no Chinese driver started a GP. Are they not capable? For the love of gods, drop this prejudice against women nonsense. Becoming a F1 driver is hard – and big numbers game is on.
but all this is a bit unecessary really, she expressed her opinion, regardless if there is facts to prove her right or wrong (which currently there aren’t many) it is her opinion, but because does not fit the current politically correct point of view she was lambasted everywhere, and of course being an employee of the FIA even if she didn’t want to she had to apologize.
This all gender “issue” has been getting a lot of attention lately, but if the goal is to have more womem in motorsport, the only real solution is to make them interested in it when they are young. It is not a matter of opportunity, because for young boys there aren’t a lot either
While people may be entitled to their “opinions”, many times opinions are formulated off of something that is believed, be that correct or not. However, when it isn’t correct it should be known and said. People shouldn’t have the ability to perpetuate misnomers just because “it’s her opinion”, when she is talking on an international platform and spouting something that those without any knowledge may believe or indirectly hear and further perpetuate. There is no proof to this claim that higher downforce vehicles are more difficult to drive, I’d argue that LMP2 cars are far more downforce efficient than F3 cars and there have been many prominent women drivers in them. I’d even say GT3 cars probably have better aero and there are a number of women that drive or have driven them successfully. And let’s not also forget Indy Cars. Her comments weren’t just about F1, they were about the open wheel racing community and how women seem to be outgunned due to the birth right of men. This isn’t so, and is a cop out. The reason women aren’t in F1 and feeder tiers is because there has never been a massive drive to bring women to the sport, and even with the current up tick, the tone has been set that no matter what gender you are, the odds will always be stacked against you.
There is no proof the claims are true but there is no proof of the contrary either. There aren’t enough examples, while it is true that women have managed to compete alongside man, there haven’t been many that touched glory. Maybe that is down to the number of women in the sport, but for now we don’t know.
The problem is in the roots, that’s it, there aren’t sufficient girls interested in doing Motorsport, don’t you worry about the birth right of men
I disagree. If you are employed in a role such as being part of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission, you can’t just say what you think without any concequences. It’s a very “political” role and all she is proving is that as with driving, she hasn’t got the necessary skills to do the job.
It’s so strange hearing a woman be so casually sexist against her own gender but I suppose she has benefited so much from sexism in her life that it’d be hard really understand it as a problem. If both genders were treated completely equally, she would have never got anywhere near F1!
And in the whole history of motorsport neither would any woman. No woman will beat Anthony Joshua at boxing, Usain Bolt at 100m and the list goes on. Her womans championship idea is good like in tennis women have breathing space to be top level against otber women as no chance against men. Would be great to be proved wrong but till it happens thats the way it is.
Women are genetically disadvantaged for this kind of physical activity. It doesn’t mean that they can’t achieve the same level as a man. They just have to work harder. Carmen? She’s just a beautiful mediocre driver who had no business in F1 other than as a marketing prop. Similar to Danica Patrick in the U.S. Tatiana? I really really hope she is actually good, because it’s bad for women when people like Susie Wolff and Carmen Jorda are the closed thing to an F1 driver. Tatiana’s credential are less than stellar, but I’ll withhold judgment until I see her post some times in an F1 car and she is within 0.5-0.7 seconds of Ericsson or Leclerc.
Of course she apologized. A person isn’t entitled to have own opinions anymore. If a woman states anything different to what SJW agenda wants, then she’s done. Talk about oppression…
After reviewing Ms Calderon’s credentials it would appear that we have another affirmative action female driver in the paddock. I really look forward to the day there is a women in Formula One and or Indy Car based upon sheer talent and determination, after a fair fight with men.
Hugh (@hugh11)
7th March 2018, 21:09
So she’s basically admitting she’s not very good? Wow, miracles do happen…
gus maia
7th March 2018, 21:15
Is F1 racist against Chinese people? All those years and no Chinese driver started a GP. Are they not capable? For the love of gods, drop this prejudice against women nonsense. Becoming a F1 driver is hard – and big numbers game is on.
faulty (@faulty)
7th March 2018, 21:16
“I would like to extend my congratulations to Tatiana Calderon – who was yesterday announced as a Formula 1 test driver at Sauber.” /full stop/
There lady, there is where your explanation ends; anything further will only provoke assumptions and suppositions.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
7th March 2018, 21:18
‘I’m sorry if by referring to women people thought I was referring to women’.
Textbook ‘non-apology apology’.
Joao (@johnmilk)
7th March 2018, 23:57
but all this is a bit unecessary really, she expressed her opinion, regardless if there is facts to prove her right or wrong (which currently there aren’t many) it is her opinion, but because does not fit the current politically correct point of view she was lambasted everywhere, and of course being an employee of the FIA even if she didn’t want to she had to apologize.
This all gender “issue” has been getting a lot of attention lately, but if the goal is to have more womem in motorsport, the only real solution is to make them interested in it when they are young. It is not a matter of opportunity, because for young boys there aren’t a lot either
MagillaGorilla (@magillagorilla)
8th March 2018, 4:05
While people may be entitled to their “opinions”, many times opinions are formulated off of something that is believed, be that correct or not. However, when it isn’t correct it should be known and said. People shouldn’t have the ability to perpetuate misnomers just because “it’s her opinion”, when she is talking on an international platform and spouting something that those without any knowledge may believe or indirectly hear and further perpetuate. There is no proof to this claim that higher downforce vehicles are more difficult to drive, I’d argue that LMP2 cars are far more downforce efficient than F3 cars and there have been many prominent women drivers in them. I’d even say GT3 cars probably have better aero and there are a number of women that drive or have driven them successfully. And let’s not also forget Indy Cars. Her comments weren’t just about F1, they were about the open wheel racing community and how women seem to be outgunned due to the birth right of men. This isn’t so, and is a cop out. The reason women aren’t in F1 and feeder tiers is because there has never been a massive drive to bring women to the sport, and even with the current up tick, the tone has been set that no matter what gender you are, the odds will always be stacked against you.
Pat
8th March 2018, 6:25
She’s driven both? Probably far more qualified to weigh in than you.
Pete (@repete86)
8th March 2018, 14:13
She hasn’t driven both though. Suzie Wolff’s driven the one Jorda’s saying is too tough without issue though.
Joao (@johnmilk)
8th March 2018, 9:40
There is no proof the claims are true but there is no proof of the contrary either. There aren’t enough examples, while it is true that women have managed to compete alongside man, there haven’t been many that touched glory. Maybe that is down to the number of women in the sport, but for now we don’t know.
The problem is in the roots, that’s it, there aren’t sufficient girls interested in doing Motorsport, don’t you worry about the birth right of men
petebaldwin (@petebaldwin)
8th March 2018, 12:33
I disagree. If you are employed in a role such as being part of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission, you can’t just say what you think without any concequences. It’s a very “political” role and all she is proving is that as with driving, she hasn’t got the necessary skills to do the job.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
8th March 2018, 4:55
You should have quoted “apologizes” instead of “confusion” in the title :-)
petebaldwin (@petebaldwin)
7th March 2018, 21:21
It’s so strange hearing a woman be so casually sexist against her own gender but I suppose she has benefited so much from sexism in her life that it’d be hard really understand it as a problem. If both genders were treated completely equally, she would have never got anywhere near F1!
Markp
7th March 2018, 23:52
And in the whole history of motorsport neither would any woman. No woman will beat Anthony Joshua at boxing, Usain Bolt at 100m and the list goes on. Her womans championship idea is good like in tennis women have breathing space to be top level against otber women as no chance against men. Would be great to be proved wrong but till it happens thats the way it is.
Shimks (@shimks)
8th March 2018, 10:43
You are so completely wrong, Markp.
https://twitter.com/JensonButton/status/970820928274800640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skysports.com%2Ff1%2Fnews%2F12433%2F11277081%2Fjenson-button-criticises-carmen-jordas-claims-that-women-cant-reach-f1-due-to-physical-barrier
Big Joe
8th March 2018, 12:55
@shimks
how does Button’s speculation prove Markp is wrong?
markp
8th March 2018, 17:12
I want to be wrong but until a lady comes into F1 and is competitive what I have said is sadly correct.
Pete (@repete86)
7th March 2018, 21:24
Oh? Did I miss something? Did Lotus ever put her in the car even for a photoshoot?
James Coulee
7th March 2018, 21:28
Nope, but she “experienced” it in the simulator. :)
alex
7th March 2018, 21:43
She experienced being 12 sec a lap slower than the benchmark
KimiRaikkonen1207 (@kimiraikkonen1207)
8th March 2018, 15:38
Like alex said, she did spend some time in it, just setting miserably slow times. Nice picture by the way – I see you must be a man of culture…
socksolid (@socksolid)
7th March 2018, 21:27
Has she even driven f1 car on track? What experience is she talking about?
ajpennypacker (@ajpennypacker)
7th March 2018, 22:56
Women are genetically disadvantaged for this kind of physical activity. It doesn’t mean that they can’t achieve the same level as a man. They just have to work harder. Carmen? She’s just a beautiful mediocre driver who had no business in F1 other than as a marketing prop. Similar to Danica Patrick in the U.S. Tatiana? I really really hope she is actually good, because it’s bad for women when people like Susie Wolff and Carmen Jorda are the closed thing to an F1 driver. Tatiana’s credential are less than stellar, but I’ll withhold judgment until I see her post some times in an F1 car and she is within 0.5-0.7 seconds of Ericsson or Leclerc.
Nifer
8th March 2018, 14:39
Of course she apologized. A person isn’t entitled to have own opinions anymore. If a woman states anything different to what SJW agenda wants, then she’s done. Talk about oppression…
Gary
8th March 2018, 14:54
After reviewing Ms Calderon’s credentials it would appear that we have another affirmative action female driver in the paddock. I really look forward to the day there is a women in Formula One and or Indy Car based upon sheer talent and determination, after a fair fight with men.