Ecclestone defends Carmen Jorda's F1 ambitions
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has come out in defence of Lotus development driver Carmen Jorda, saying the Spaniard “has done a good job” for the Enstone-based team.
Jorda has come under fire for her position at Lotus given her lack of results in the lower categories, with FIA Women in Motorsport commission head Michele Mouton in particular dismissing her credentials for the role.
In response, the 27-year-old said she was “surprised” by Mouton’s comments, suggesting the former WRC winner should gain a better understanding of her programme before criticising.
Now Ecclestone, who has long been eager to see a female driver land a full-time F1 seat, has come out in Jorda’s defence, praising her in particular for being “prepared to give up what it takes.”
Asked by Motorsport.com whether he felt Jorda was getting a hard time, Ecclestone said: “She is very good. We asked Lotus to see and she has done a good job for them.
“She wants to be in F1. We have to try to find the right way, but she is not alone. There are plenty of other people.
“I saw the American girl, Danica [Patrick, currently racing in NASCAR], and I said we would be able to do something for [IndyCar driver Simona] de Silvestro, but they don't want to come to Europe; they want to stay in America.
“So you have to get the person who has enough talent and wants to do it, and is prepared to give up what it takes.”
Not enough females racing
Ecclestone added that he hopes to unearth more female talent in the future, arguing that a lack of other women racing at a comparable level makes criticism of Jorda unfair.
“I would like to push hard, not just for Carmen but for other people that are probably out there,” said the 84-year-old.
“You have Miss World. It doesn't mean she is the best looking girl in the world. It means she is the best one who has been in the competition.
“She might not be the best, but she is in the competition. So we need to find out [who else is out there].”
Previous article
Renault’s potential Lotus deal not dependent on TV money
Next article
Fangio exhumation will go ahead
The IndyCar feature that Paul Ricard desperately needs in F1
The French Grand Prix offered a surprisingly interesting spectacle, despite the headache-inducing nature of the circuit. But IndyCar's Road America race offered far more in terms of action - and the increased jeopardy at the Elkhart Lake venue might be something Paul Ricard needs in future...
French Grand Prix driver ratings
The French GP was a weekend decided by tiny margins both at the front of the field, as Red Bull inflicted a comeback defeat on Mercedes, and in the battle for the minor points places. That's reflected in our driver ratings, where several drivers came close to a maximum score
How Red Bull took French GP "payback" on a day of Mercedes mistakes
The French GP has been a stronghold for Mercedes since Paul Ricard's return to the calendar in 2018. But that all changed on Sunday, as a clever two-stop strategy guided Red Bull's Max Verstappen to make a race-winning pass on the penultimate lap - for once leaving Mercedes to experience the pain of late defeat it has so often inflicted on Red Bull
The Mercedes lap that puts F1 victory fight back on a knife-edge
Red Bull led the way after the first two practice sessions for the 2021 French Grand Prix, but only just ahead of Mercedes. There was all the usual practice skulduggery complicating the performance picture, but one aspect seen at the world champion squad gave it a ‘surprise’ lift, as it looks to leave its street-circuit struggles firmly in the past.
How Ferrari got its F1 recovery plan working
After its worst campaign in 40 years, the famous Italian team had to bounce back in 2021 – and it appears to be delivering. Although it concedes the pole positions in Monaco and Baku paint a somewhat misleading picture of its competitiveness, the team is heading into the 2022 rules revamp on much stronger footing to go for wins again
The joy that exposes F1’s key weakness
Long-awaited wins for ex-Formula 1 drivers Marcus Ericsson and Kevin Magnussen in IndyCar and IMSA last weekend gave F1 a reminder of what it is missing. But with the new rules aimed at levelling the playing field, there’s renewed optimism that more drivers can have a rewarding result when their day of days comes
The F1 figures Red Bull and Mercedes can't afford to see again
OPINION: An interloper squad got amongst the title contenders during Formula 1’s street-circuit mini-break, where Red Bull left with the points lead in both championships. But, as the campaign heads back to purpose-built venues once again, how the drivers of the two top teams compare in one crucial area will be a major factor in deciding which squad stays in or retakes the top spot
Why Alfa's boss is up to the task of securing a stronger F1 future
Two tenth places in recent races have lifted Alfa Romeo to the head of Formula 1's 'Class C' battle in 2021, but longer-term the Swiss-based squad has far loftier ambitions. With the new 2022 rules set to level out the playing field, team boss Frederic Vasseur has good reason to be optimistic, as he explained to Motorsport.com in an exclusive interview
