Susie Wolff has defended the comments made by Bernie Ecclestone about female drivers in Formula One.
Ecclestone caused controversy this week when he said a female driver would not be taken seriously in the sport, while also questioning "whether a woman would physically be able to drive an F1 car quickly". A female driver has not competed in a race since Lella Lombardi at the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix.
Former Williams test driver Susie Wolff was the closest to ending that wait recently, though she only ever competed in four Friday practice sessions before retiring at the end of last year. Since doing so she has set up the Dare to be Different campaign which aims to promote female talent in motor racing.
Wolff says Ecclestone has always supported her and the initiative.
After hearing Bernie's comments in context & speaking to him today, it's clear we both have the goal of getting a female driver to F1 (1/4)
— Susie Wolff (@Susie_Wolff) April 20, 2016
Through my years in motorsport, he was supportive of my mission to make it onto the starting grid in F1 (2/4)
— Susie Wolff (@Susie_Wolff) April 20, 2016
Last week, he agreed to come onboard with @D2BDofficial & support the next generation of girls aiming for the top, on & off the track (3/4)
— Susie Wolff (@Susie_Wolff) April 20, 2016
For me, actions always speak louder than words. @D2BDofficial is about driving female talent & Bernie is with us. (4/4) #D2BD
— Susie Wolff (@Susie_Wolff) April 20, 2016
While there are no drivers on the grid F1 has two female team principals, Monisha Kaltenborn at Sauber and Claire Williams running her father's eponymous team day-to-day.