I would love to see a woman in F1 but...

[SharkY]

I would love to see a woman in F1 but.... The thread has identified no phsyical, mental or individual reason that it cannot happen?

The thing is, there is also no evidence, that women can get to the same mental-physical long term competetive level as the best F1 drivers. I mean, women can be really fast drivers, but getting to Verstappen's level of driving is unattainable for most men drivers and I see is as plausible, that it just might be out of reach for women. I'm not saying, it is, but I'm also not ruling it out. There are some biological differences between sexes and who knows, where their limitations lie.

I would love to see a woman in F1 but... if she's good enough to be considered a Top Tier driver (or at most Tier 2, like e.g. Sainz). If she was only a decent driver, then I couldn't care less if she was hired or not (like for all other decent drivers).

Leaves it looking like a societal issue? As it once was for Lewis and has been in other mainstream sports.

I see it as a societal issue, but not "women are not given opportunities", more in the way the whole motorsport is built.
If the sport was built like that: give a youngster a car and have them compete in a time trial, and the ones with the most natural talent go to F1, then I can see women getting there.
But motorsport throws children into meatgrinder direct competition on track from the beggining and boys are more aggressive than girls. I found some studies suggesting, that only the level of physical aggression in boys is much higher, but than again in such a close contact sport a physical aggression prevails. Like, you can be an extremely fast, but also a really fair driver, and only lose races, because others pushed you off track. But will the sponsors and teams care for your speed, if you let others push you around?
Honestly, I can't think of a close contact sport, where women can successfully go against men. Although most of these have a greater physicallity aspect than racing.
I feel like that might be a culprit, why so many girls opt out from the sport. Add to this a lower likelihood of competetiveness (likelihood to choose a risky approach), and throw in the money aspect with boy-favourism (not without some merit though), and hence why there are precious little women in the sport.

[TimW]

The thing is, there is also no evidence, that women can get to the same mental-physical long term competetive level as the best F1 drivers.

There is also no evidence that women cannot get to a far higher mental-physical long term competitive level than the best male F1 drivers.

That is the one of the biggest hurdles women are facing. Through all the junior levels, when they want to get a seat, they are facing the prejudice omnipresent in this thread. Discussing a driver choice, a good chunk of the decision makers will have this "a girl, probably not fast " in the back of their mind. Not only teams, but also sponsors. That will severely impact their chances.

[90feet]

But motorsport throws children into meatgrinder direct competition on track from the beggining and boys are more aggressive than girls.

This just isn't true. Girls do great at karting from a young age. They tend to quit because of the constant, overwhelming sexism, much like the nonsense you're spreading right now.

[hollus]

It is not nonsense. It a valid point. One that might or might not be true, as stated in the post itself with “plausible” and “might”.
Of course, most sports where “contact” and aggression might be important are centered on physical prowess.
So what about sailing? Same competition, same fighting for position, same option to play chicken and say/bluff “you move or we crash” as in F1, but again, a machine providing most of the Newtons.
Someone in the know: How do women mix it up with men in comparable (or mixed?) sailing classes?
Strength still matters in sailing, but clearly much less than in soccer.

[Hoffman900]

Sorry, Hollus, but it is nonsense.

Not surprised you would have a bad take on this. I know you’ll abuse your mod ability and delete another one of my posts, though.

[hollus]

That women (in average) might or might not have a different approach to aggression is not point worth considering?

[CMSMJ1]

Sorry, Hollus, but it is nonsense.

Not surprised you would have a bad take on this. I know you’ll abuse your mod ability and delete another one of my posts, though.

That's not needed.

What's the nonsense bit? Aggression?

[Hoffman900]

Sorry, Hollus, but it is nonsense.

Not surprised you would have a bad take on this. I know you’ll abuse your mod ability and delete another one of my posts, though.

That's not needed.

What's the nonsense bit? Aggression?

Well Hollus already deleted one of my posts, and earlier their response to when a bunch of spam posters downvoting me when I pointed out they were technically wrong elsewhere was to remove my voting ability.

I made a complaint thread about it. He’s chased several, sometimes good, posters away with siding with the more juvenile posters on here, so just not surprised to their stance on this here.

[Greg Locock]

And so far as aggression goes, try playing netball against a good team. Frightening.

[peewon]

Whenever there is a question of low participation numbers of women in something, sexism is almost always thrown out as a reason for it. What no one has ever answered is why their numbers are always high in other fields with rampant sexism like the Music and Film industry. How many women are watching the W series or participating in women's only chess tournaments?

[mwillems]

That women (in average) might or might not have a different approach to aggression is not point worth considering?

I'd say not so much. They are in many elite sports on the world stage, so the desire to excel and win (with aggression), is obviously there, even if less women have that drive. The question is why the disparity between motorsport and other sports?

[mwillems]

And so far as aggression goes, try playing netball against a good team. Frightening.

I used to play hockey, f*ck me. Once you got to teenage years if you ever came up against a mixed team the girls were brutal.

[bananapeel23]

I think as with so many other things, it's an almost totally social issue with a few very minor physiological aspects as well. Male hand-eye coordination seems to be slightly superior to that of women, but I see no reason why that should really stop women from getting into F1 when drivers with broken hands and arms have managed to perform despite their injuries. In terms of physicality, F1 is physical, but only up to a point, after which you really gain no more benefits from strength, and that strength is very attainable for women.

Women would have no trouble getting into F1 if people pushed their young daughters into karts like they do with boys and there weren't any societal issues at play.

I do really think that once we see one woman get there on merit, we will probably see many more a decade or so later. Like I see no real reason why an F1 grid couldn't be 50/50 men and women, even if I do find that unrealistic because of social reasons. (re: sexism)

[FW17]

Whenever there is a question of low participation numbers of women in something, sexism is almost always thrown out as a reason for it. What no one has ever answered is why their numbers are always high in other fields with rampant sexism like the Music and Film industry. How many women are watching the W series or participating in women's only chess tournaments?

Low participation is due to no girls karting leagues and women racing leagues. Girls and women should not worry about being measured against boys and men in anything called sports.

Where are the Kart series for girls? has there been a progression series for women drivers beyond F3 level W series and Formula Academy? Is there a F2 level championship for Women?

[Greg Locock]

If this thread is to be believed there is no need for a separate league. I have no opinion on that.