Brawn: No reason why women can't succeed in F1

Saturday 10th May 2008

Ross Brawn believes there is room in F1 for women drivers providing they prove they are competitive and not just a token gesture.

The fact Danica Patrick recently won an IRL race in Japan has again raised the debate as to whether she, and others like her, could cut it amongst motorsport's elite.

In 2000, Patrick finished second in the Formula Ford Festival to Anthony Davidson, who this week found himself out of work given the demise of Super Aguri.

The 26-year-old then moved across to the United States in order to make her name, initially doing so when she became the first woman driver to lead the Indy 500 in 2005.

It was Patrick's IRL victory, though, that has captured interest and the public imagination, and really brought her to prominence.

Patrick has conceded she would one day like to test herself in F1, and it is not inconceivable given the right car she could become the first woman to score a point since Leila Lombardi in 1975.

Italian Lombardi competed in 12 grands prix, taking half a point in the Spanish race of 33 years ago. No woman has ever scored a full point in F1.

Commenting on Patrick's prospects, Brawn remarked: "We can all see the commercial attraction, how exciting it would be to have a female driver in Formula One.

"But the key thing is whether they can be competitive because it would be a shame if, purely because they were female, they got put in the car and couldn't compete properly.

"But if they can do that, then absolutely, it would be great."

Echoing the sentiments of Brawn, Toyota motorsport president John Howett feels Patrick has "opened people's eyes to the possibility" of a female driver racing in F1.

"Why not? It would probably be very good," replied Howett when questioned on the matter ahead of Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix.

"We just need to see a driver with the capability and who could deliver performance because we are basically all focused on winning and track performance.

"I don't think there's any discrimination in terms of anything within our organisation or team, so if we could find a suitable driver, we would be delighted.

"We have young driver programmes. Unfortunately most of the guys coming into karting at the moment and delivering performance are male.

"I think it would probably be good (to have a female driver), but you would need someone who could be competitive.

"With Danica it shows it's possible for an extremely talented lady to be competitive in what is historically seen as a male environment."

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