70 replies to this topic

[Wiggy]

Anyone else watched this? It's a good watch, interesting to see the footage of her racing Hamilton in karts and Junior formulas.

Surely a team would benefit from picking her for a year, even for the marketing opportunity.

[smitten]

Surely a team would benefit from picking her for a year, even for the marketing opportunity.

Which of the two teams her husband has shares in do you think should pick her up?

[rhukkas]

What documentary? The one produced and directed by her brother?

When did the BBC become a service for film makers to promote their family members?

Edited by rhukkas, 15 April 2013 - 19:10.

[Clatter]

Anyone else watched this? It's a good watch, interesting to see the footage of her racing Hamilton in karts and Junior formulas.

Surely a team would benefit from picking her for a year, even for the marketing opportunity.

A team has already picked her, she works for Williams.

[DanardiF1]

What documentary? The one produced and directed by her brother?

When did the BBC become a service for film makers to promote their family members?

I watched 15 minutes before turning it off because it was a load of nepotistic, vague tripe. Glossing over her junior career, making it sound good because she 'raced' with Lewis Hamilton (ie. finished once on a podium with him in a FRenault race), overdubbing FRenault races with fake F1 engine sounds. Then giving no real background to how she got her DTM drive (thanks Toto darling... it must've cost you a lot to buy 49% of HWA, and all so I can trundle round at the back doing nothing! Wow you do love me!) and just skipping the 4 previous seasons and 4 points to show for them before heading into a moan about the colour of her car (yes, it's pink, you're a girl... of course it makes marketing sense, but did you think to actually look at the TV Spielfilm logo? Yes that one with pink writing... I wonder why they thought to use that colour on the car then!?!)

[DanardiF1]

Which of the two teams her husband has shares in do you think should pick her up?

+1

[ensign14]

Surely a team would benefit from picking her for a year, even for the marketing opportunity.

Only if the 107% qualifying rule were changed to 137%.

[MirNyet]

Saw it listed, didn't bother - the text on the info panel stated she is aiming to be the first woman in F1 since the 70's - completely forgetting the woman from 1992. If they cannot even get that right, what's the rest of it going to be like?

[sock22]

Saw it listed, didn't bother - the text on the info panel stated she is aiming to be the first woman in F1 since the 70's - completely forgetting the woman from 1992. If they cannot even get that right, what's the rest of it going to be like?

It actually says 'the first woman to race in F1 since the 70s'. As Giovanna Amati failed to qualify for a race in 1992, she didn't 'race in F1', so it is right.

[ensign14]

Other than the one who raced at e.g. the South African Grand Prix 1981 and several British F1 championship rounds.

[DampMongoose]

I wonder if Stirling watched it? I saw it on the iPlayer and had a look and turned off after a few minutes when I realised it wasn't particularly impartial...

[PayasYouRace]

Thought it was quite good actually. It's a lifestyle documentary, so don't expect it to be a hardcore motorsport one. An interesting insight into her life and work.

Will she get a race drive with Williams? Probably not, but if she's as bad as some of you make out Sir Frank wouldn't be letting her anywhere near one of his cars. She's no worse than half the test/development drivers that have been in F1 teams over the past 10 years.

Most interesting moment for me was actually seeing her in the Williams sim. It appears as though it has a 3D display, judging by the weird sunglasses she had on her headset.

[Rob]

Other than the one who raced at e.g. the South African Grand Prix 1981 and several British F1 championship rounds.

Desiré Wilson actually won a British F1 race at Brands Hatch.

[lbennie]

If there was any woman even remotely close to good enough at the moment they would be in a race seat. The marketing potential would be ridiculous.

That's why i don't think any of the current crop would cut the mustard.

[smitten]

Probably not, but if she's as bad as some of you make out Sir Frank wouldn't be letting her anywhere near one of his cars.

You don't think her husband owning 16% of Williams encouraged Sir Frank to lend her the keys?

But you are right that she probably isn't the worst test driver ever to set foot in a cockpit.

[PayasYouRace]

You don't think her husband owning 16% of Williams encouraged Sir Frank to lend her the keys?

But you are right that she probably isn't the worst test driver ever to set foot in a cockpit.

So he got 16% say in the decision then. Does Toto still have any say at Williams this year now that he's running Mercedes? Even if Sir Frank was pressured into the decision to take Susie on by Toto, he probably has very little reason to keep her now unless she's actually capable of doing the job*, which I see no reason to believe she can't.

*Of test/development driver.

[sosidge]

No, I can't imagine that dropping a female driver would do any harm to Williams' reputation. Not when the 2nd in command at the team is a woman, nor when the driver in question has just had a hagiography broadcast on the BBC. No harm at all...

Truth is, Susie spends no time in a competitive car, but adds a whole load of kudos to a team and sport that seems to be this weeks target for allegations of sexism. She is cheap publicity, husband on the board or not. She doesn't have a hope in hell of getting an F1 seat, Williams know it - just don't say it out loud.

Edited by sosidge, 16 April 2013 - 11:48.

[smitten]

So he got 16% say in the decision then. Does Toto still have any say at Williams this year now that he's running Mercedes?

You know it doesn't work like that. It may be coincidence, or it may have been a gentleman's agreement when he bought in, or it could be anything inbetween. But let's not pretend it wasn't a factor as that is just how it works. Or do we believe Max Chilton has his seat on talent alone?

Even if Sir Frank was pressured into the decision to take Susie on by Toto, he probably has very little reason to keep her now unless she's actually capable of doing the job*, which I see no reason to believe she can't.

She's doing a good job at the mo of generating publicity, and the puff piece broadcast allows us to make few insight into her as a driver and the feedback that a development driver must give. But we do know that her racing history is less than stellar. Better than mine, obviously, and you can argue that she didn't always have the best machinery, but in 7 years of DTM she hasn't got anywhere near the podium.

[PayasYouRace]

You know it doesn't work like that. It may be coincidence, or it may have been a gentleman's agreement when he bought in, or it could be anything inbetween. But let's not pretend it wasn't a factor as that is just how it works. Or do we believe Max Chilton has his seat on talent alone?

That doesn't answer my question though. Does he still have influence today?

I didn't say Toto had no influence at the time, but wasn't able to make the decision alone. She might not have got a look in without him, but if she wasn't good enough I don't think she'd have got the job. That's not my understanding of how Williams works, e.g. Claire's history in the team.

She's doing a good job at the mo of generating publicity, and the puff piece broadcast allows us to make few insight into her as a driver and the feedback that a development driver must give. But we do know that her racing history is less than stellar. Better than mine, obviously, and you can argue that she didn't always have the best machinery, but in 7 years of DTM she hasn't got anywhere near the podium.

Which is fair enough, but you don't have to be anything special to do the jobs she's doing. You have to be good technically, rather than just fast. I've already said I don't see her getting a race drive, but I see her as being capable of doing the job she has, and I don't really understand all the stick she gets on here.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Well, she drives the simulator mainly. So it's not like they're really risking anything. They gain some decent PR, they sacrifice next to nothing.

[smitten]

That doesn't answer my question though. Does he still have influence today?

Yes.

[EthanM]

That doesn't answer my question though. Does he still have influence today?

I didn't say Toto had no influence at the time, but wasn't able to make the decision alone. She might not have got a look in without him, but if she wasn't good enough I don't think she'd have got the job. That's not my understanding of how Williams works, e.g. Claire's history in the team.

Toto had a similar segment in Austria where they basically claimed props for Maldonado's Spanish GP win, the actual words used were that he led Williams back to competitiveness after a 10 year drought.

[Les]

It would be good to have a proper F1 female driver if they done it on merit i.e. wons races or championships on the way up. I don't think she has the credentials to deserve a seat. She seems a like a nice lady (weird accent though) but I'd be happy for a driver to come up on merit and not one who just happens to be the wife of the boss. On that regards though she gets a lot of stick but surely Max Chilton deserves half of the criticism that Susie gets due to the fact that he's in F1 in similar circumstances.

[smitten]

On that regards though she gets a lot of stick but surely Max Chilton deserves half of the criticism that Susie gets due to the fact that he's in F1 in similar circumstances.

Chilton's record is much, much, better. Yes, he's got his seat because of daddy but at least he's won races (and in GP2).

[Les]

Chilton's record is much, much, better. Yes, he's got his seat because of daddy but at least he's won races (and in GP2).

Yeah fair point, personally I wouldn't say that he's deserving of an F1 seat though (although he's by far not the only current driver in that camp).

[smitten]

Yeah fair point, personally I wouldn't say that he's deserving of an F1 seat though (although he's by far not the only current driver in that camp).

TBF, the 3 guys who finished above him last year in GP2 are or have been in F1 in some fashion too, so Chilton has a decent claim at a shot (but he wouldn't have got it this year without the money). Wolff in contrast has never finished higher than 7th in 7 years of DTM. It's night and day.

[ForeverF1]

Has Susie, due to her contacts, deprived any other from a test, if so, who? Would any other driver, if they had the same contacts, decline the chance to make it into F1?

[PayasYouRace]

(weird accent though)

I did notice. Sounds like Toto's Austrian accent is rubbing off on her a bit.

[William Hunt]

Has Susie, due to her contacts, deprived any other from a test, if so, who?

James Calado?

[ForeverF1]

James Calado?

Please provide evidence of this. I am not saying that you are wrong, but, I would like to know how James was refused a test in favour of Susie.

[Ross Stonefeld]

She's never tested. She took part in that Williams media day in the summer when someone drove a Rothmans Williams and someone else drove an old Williams Ford, and I think the F2 champ got to do some demo laps in the current car.

[smitten]

Has Susie, due to her contacts, deprived any other from a test, if so, who?

That is unknowable.

Would any other driver, if they had the same contacts, decline the chance to make it into F1?

Of course not.

[Boing 2]

I did notice. Sounds like Toto's Austrian accent is rubbing off on her a bit.

Yeah I thought she sounded German too!

[ForeverF1]

She's never tested.

So, that she was not given a 'test' time of 52 seconds to complete a lap was not a test. OK.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I haven't seen the program so I don't know what drive that was, but she's never driven the car in a proper test.

She drove the 2011 Williams in fall of 2012 as part of a sponsor/media day at Silverstone. Pastor was in the 90s Williams Renault, Bruno was in the 80s Williams-Cosworth. Was it part of that?

Maybe on another occasion she's done a straightline test or a shakedown, but she's never been out in an official/young driver test.

[EthanM]

I haven't seen the program so I don't know what drive that was, but she's never driven the car in a proper test.

She drove the 2011 Williams in fall of 2012 as part of a sponsor/media day at Silverstone. Pastor was in the 90s Williams Renault, Bruno was in the 80s Williams-Cosworth. Was it part of that?

Maybe on another occasion she's done a straightline test or a shakedown, but she's never been out in an official/young driver test.

yes that's it, she drove the 2011 Williams on that sponsor day where Pastor was driving Damon Hill's 96 Car and Senna drove Rosberg's 82 car and she did the shakedown for the new car back in February. That AFAIK is all the F1 mileage she has.

[ForeverF1]

I haven't seen the program so I don't know what drive that was, but she's never driven the car in a proper test.

She drove the 2011 Williams in fall of 2012 as part of a sponsor/media day at Silverstone. Pastor was in the 90s Williams Renault, Bruno was in the 80s Williams-Cosworth. Was it part of that?

Maybe on another occasion she's done a straightline test or a shakedown, but she's never been out in an official/young driver test.

For me, right or wrong, telling Susie that she had to, within 10 laps, break into the 52 second lap time was a 'test'.

[maverick69]

For me that was a documentary about an pretty average racing driver who happens to be female..... with a few F1 stars "bigging it up".

Not exactly "Senna".........

Edited by maverick69, 16 April 2013 - 14:52.

[ApexMouse]

Though it was more impartial.

[maverick69]

Though it was more impartial.

It was reasonably impartial (IMO)...... but I didn't quite get what it severed to do other than to tick a box outlined by the BBC equality committee..... because it is hardly earth moving.

[rhukkas]

So, that she was not given a 'test' time of 52 seconds to complete a lap was not a test. OK.

When was the last time a driver was given 10 laps to hit a target time in a serious test? No doubt the director/producer (HER BROTHER) said to the guys at Williams what would be a reasonable aspiration for the 10 laps and they probably said... "dunno a 51 or 52 would be OK in this weather, who knows.". They then packaged it up as if she had to hit a certain 'time'. it's called an artistic licence... adn that 'artist' was HER BROTHER. Let me say this again. Her brother directed a film about his sister's first go in a car partly owned by her husband.

If they really wanted to give her test it would be more than 10 laps on a media day with her brother's BBC film crew there. It'd have been during winter testing or ona quiet day where she could put some real laps in on a FULL circuit where there was an actual reference time.

Edited by rhukkas, 16 April 2013 - 15:10.

[ForeverF1]

It was reasonably impartial (IMO)...... but I didn't quite get what it severed to do other than to tick a box outlined by the BBC equality committee..... because it is hardly earth moving.

Was it meant to be earth moving? Or, was it meant to be (an infomercial) that women do have a place in F1?

[ForeverF1]

If they really wanted to give her test it would be more than 10 laps on a media day with her brother's BBC film crew there. It'd have been during winter testing or ona quiet day where she could put some real laps in on a FULL circuit where there was an actual reference time.

More is less to perform. OK.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I think it was meant to market Susie Wolff, but it was created in a way that a TV network would bite.

[maverick69]

Was it meant to be earth moving? Or, was it meant to be (an infomercial) that women do have a place in F1?

I don't know...... But it all seemed a bit flat and tick box - despite the good intentions.

But I am a racing fan - not a casual viewer..... And as I have said - it just seemed like a documentation of an average racing driver. Kind of the thing that you'd soon be picking up in the 99p DVD section before too long.

But hey. If this provides inspiration for other females to get into motorsport then who am I hiding behind my keyboard..........

[ForeverF1]

I think it was meant to market Susie Wolff, but it was created in a way that a TV network would bite.

No arguments with that.

[ForeverF1]

I don't know...... But it all seemed a bit flat and tick box - despite the good intentions.

But I am a racing fan - not a casual viewer..... And as I have said - it just seemed like a documentation of an average racing driver. Kind of the thing that you'd soon be picking up in the 99p DVD section before too long.

But hey. If this provides inspiration for other females to get into motorsport then who am I hiding behind my keyboard..........

Shucks, I guess you mean I am a casual viewer.....This is true, since the 13th May 1950.

[maverick69]

Shucks, I guess you mean I am a casual viewer.....This is true, since the 13th May 1950.

Lol.

Yeah..... You casual viewer you! <points finger>

[ForeverF1]

All the bullshit aside, do women have a place in modern F1, I would say yes they do and whilst this 'documentary' is Susie specific, it highlights the mindset of a racing driver, regardless of gender.

[ApexMouse]

Of course they do.

I don't understand why it's even a question. There just aren't any good enough.