Stupid question from someone not into this sport at all. Why is there a division between men and women in this sport if the thing “actually” competing is a genderless vehicle?
As the other person posted no rules against, it’s all opportunity and money. This is a rich persons sport. Drivers have to pretty much supply their own sponsors through all the lower racing series into F1. Like it or not, young girls are not often pushed into racing. These drivers start young, like 8-13. Folks definitely need to see they can do something to believe they can do something so the W series hopefully helped with that.
I believe that Hamilton Commission and Mission 44 are working towards addressing these issues of access for minority and disadvantaged folks. It’s a long road though due to money, sexism, and racism.
the thing “actually” competing is a genderless vehicle
I don’t think this is 100% true though. F1 drivers must be very fit to tolerate ~2 hours of high G forces. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that male drivers can tolerate that easier than female drivers.
Unfortunately your argument doesn’t hold out. There are something like 5-10% women air force pilots in the US, and I’m sure as hell they can tolerate the Gs if they pilot them, in an otherwise very male dominated industry. Yet F1 sits on a big fat 0 percent. So it’s pointless to argue biology when there’s a very clear sign that a bigger factor maybe something else at the moment.
firstly, not all Air Force pilots must pull heavy Gs for two hours straight. And it’s not just a matter of “tolerating” the Gs, but tolerating them while operating an F1 car as precisely as the other drivers. The more strength and endurance a driver has the easier that will be.
Secondly, there are like 20,000+ Air Force pilots, so there is way more opportunity there. Do you think if they hand picked the 30 best fighter pilots any would be women? Or alternatively, if we looked at the top 20,000 motorsport drivers, maybe there would be 5% women.
lastly, I’m not saying it’s ONLY biology, of course there are additional factors involved as well.
Thank you for completely missing my point, have a nice day.
thank you for your eloquent explanation and honest engagement with my points. have a nice day.
