Carmen Jorda, GP3, Circuit de Catalunya, 2014

Jorda apologises for “confusion” over women racer comments

2018 F1 season

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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.

Susie Wolff, Williams FW33, Silverstone, 2012
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Her remarks prompted criticism from several female racers including IndyCar race winner Danica Patrick, who rejected the claim women are at a physical disadvantage in motor sport.

Carmen Jorda statement. 7th March 2018

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?”.

Omar Ismail, Cameron Das, Jamie Chadwick British F3, Rockingham, 2017
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As 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.

As such, I would like to extend my congratulations to Tatiana Calderon – who was yesterday announced as a Formula 1 test driver at Sauber. I hope that she can become the first woman in 41 years to start a race on the Formula 1 grid and wish her the very best of luck for the coming season.

I wish all women in motorsport a happy lntemational Women’s Day for tomorrow.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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24 comments on “Jorda apologises for “confusion” over women racer comments”

  1. So she’s basically admitting she’s not very good? Wow, miracles do happen…

  2. 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.

  3. “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.

  4. I also referred to there being ‘a physical issue’ for women in Formula 1 […] I am sorry if my comments appeared to speak for all women

    ‘I’m sorry if by referring to women people thought I was referring to women’.

    Textbook ‘non-apology apology’.

    1. 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

      1. 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.

        1. She’s driven both? Probably far more qualified to weigh in than you.

          1. She hasn’t driven both though. Suzie Wolff’s driven the one Jorda’s saying is too tough without issue though.

        2. 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

      2. 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.

    2. You should have quoted “apologizes” instead of “confusion” in the title :-)

  5. 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!

    1. 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.

        1. @shimks

          how does Button’s speculation prove Markp is wrong?

          1. I want to be wrong but until a lady comes into F1 and is competitive what I have said is sadly correct.

  6. Having some experience of both cars

    Oh? Did I miss something? Did Lotus ever put her in the car even for a photoshoot?

    1. James Coulee
      7th March 2018, 21:28

      Nope, but she “experienced” it in the simulator. :)

      1. She experienced being 12 sec a lap slower than the benchmark

      2. 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…

  7. Has she even driven f1 car on track? What experience is she talking about?

  8. 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.

  9. 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…

  10. 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.

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