Don't Cry Wolff Bernie - F1

Bernie Ecclestone has claimed a female driver “would not be taken seriously” in the sport. The Formula One chief executive, who last year called for a women’s series to run in tandem with the main grand prix schedule, also suggested the sport may never see a female racer again.

It is now almost 40 years since the Italian driver Lella Lombardi became the last woman to start a Formula One race at the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix.

In an interview on the Canadian network TSN, when asked if he anticipated the return of a female driver to the grid, Ecclestone said: “I doubt it. If there was somebody that was capable they wouldn’t be taken seriously anyway, so they would never have a car that is capable of competing. There was a girl that was driving in GP3 for a whole season so it is not something that hasn’t happened.”

The reporter then asked: “But it is not going to happen in the main event?” Ecclestone replied: “No. I don’t think so.”

The British driver Susie Wolff became the first woman to compete at a Formula One race weekend in more than two decades when she took part in practice for Williams at the 2014 British Grand Prix. But the 33-year-old, who is married to Mercedes’ director, Toto Wolff, retired from motor racing last year after claiming her dream of reaching the starting grid was “unachievable”.

On Thursday, the Scot launched the Dare to be Different initiative – a scheme that is aimed at increasing the number of women involved in motor sport.

Alice Powell, the 22-year-old Briton who became the first female winner of the Formula Renault series in 2010 and has subsequently competed in GP3, is an ambassador for the initiative. She said: “Someone needs to prove Bernie wrong. It would be a shame if a team would turn down a female to race in F1 because they would not be taken seriously.

“That is one of the issues though, that people don’t take the chance as they think it will be a joke. We’re not a joke and it is just another factor which makes it harder for females to race at the highest level.”

The Spanish driver Carmen Jordá was employed as a development driver for Lotus last year but is yet to compete for the team.

The highly-rated Simona de Silvestro tested for Sauber in 2014 before running out of funds. She now competes in the FIA-approved electric series Formula E.

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F1 Rule Changes Needed - Horner

Formula 1 needs rule changes to make it less predictable, says Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

Lewis Hamilton won the 2014 and 2015 world drivers' championships from Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Mercedes won the constructors' title in both years, finishing first in 32 out of 38 races and completing 23 one-twos.

"People get turned off with predictability. It needs a rejig to bring it closer together," Horner told Autosport.

The Red Bull boss said it was up to the sport's senior officials, including commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt, to find a solution.

"The regulations are incredibly stable for next year, so Mercedes will inevitably carry on the dominance, such is their margin," he added.

Horner believes the situation is different to when Red Bull won four successive constructors' championships and Sebastian Vettel the same number of drivers' titles from 2010 to 2013.

"Two of our world championships went to the last race, and we never finished first and second in a championship," he said.

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Mr and Mrs Button Separate

Formula One star Jenson Button has split from his model wife Jessica Michibata after just one year of marriage.

The pair, who tied the knot in Hawaii in December last year, are said to have parted on friendly terms.

A spokesman for Button said: "Jenson and Jessica have decided to go their separate ways and it is very amicable. There is no one else involved."

Last New Year's Eve the former F1 world champion, from Frome, Somerset, and the Japanese-Argentine model confirmed their marriage on Twitter, writing: "Happy New Year from Mr & Mrs Button! We're excited to see in the New year with family and loved ones, we hope you're too!"

After meeting in 2008, the couple's relationship experienced ups and downs and they split for a short time in 2010 before getting back together.

Button, 35, and his wife, 31, hit the headlines in August this year when they were burgled in their sleep while on holiday in the south of France.

The McLaren driver was staying with friends in a St Tropez villa when thieves broke into the property, making off with valuables worth around £300,000, including Jessica's engagement ring.

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Jenson has Finger on Button

Jenson Button believes the Formula One calendar should not go beyond the record-breaking 21 races scheduled for 2016.

The addition of the European Grand Prix in Azerbaijan and the return of the German Grand Prix – absent this year due to financial reasons – means Button and his fellow drivers are set to compete in 21 races for the first time in the sport’s history. Australia will play host to the first race in Melbourne on 20 March before the season ends in Abu Dhabi on 27 November. There will be six pairs of back-to-back races.

“For me it is fine because I love racing and I wish there was another race next weekend,” said Button, who will take his grand prix career into a 17th season in 2016. “I fly in on a Thursday to the European races and leave on a Sunday night, whereas the mechanics work such long hours and they spend so much time away from home that 21 races is going to be tough.

“I think it is difficult for any mechanic or engineer to have a relationship right now, for those guys it is not going to be easy. I just hope that it doesn’t grow in terms of races for 2017 because I think it will be too much.”

During his debut Formula One campaign in 2000, Button competed in 17 races – only six of which were staged outside Europe. But 11 of next year’s 21 grands prix – not including the races in Azerbaijan and Russia – will take place away from the sport’s traditional homeland.

“The first race next year starts later so it means there are a lot of back-to-backs and that is two weeks away from home for a lot of guys,” Button said. “I think you will probably have people hanging around less in terms of their role on the race team. You are going to get new people coming in after one year, which is a shame because it is nice having that atmosphere with people that you know and that you have worked with for years.”

One of next year’s scheduled races – the United States Grand Prix – is in serious doubt after the state of Texas announced it is to reduce its funding of the event by 20%. The Austin meeting, popular on the calendar since its debut in 2012, played host to Lewis Hamilton’s title triumph in October.

“It was the best race in 2015 and that is the one that might not be around next year,” Button added. “It will be a real shame if it is not around. It is a fun circuit, a fun city and it is nice to be racing in the States.”

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Button Tells Fans Not to Worry

Jenson Button has told his fans “don’t worry about me” as the McLaren board meets to decide his future.

Asked on Sky Sports whether he would still be with the team next season, he replied: “That’s a question I can’t answer.”

McLaren have continued to dither over the fate of their drivers as they seek to clear a place for the incoming Fernando Alonso now he has officially left Ferrari and the group CEO Ron Dennis had promised Button and his team-mate Kevin Magnussen an answer as to who would be in the car before the end of the season, only to put off the decision until the board meeting on Thursday.

Although a decision may be made at the meeting it is possible no announcement will be made until next week.

Speaking from a road-safety event in Edinburgh where he was accompanied by Magnusson, Button said: “I don’t know when we’ll find out.

“I’m here with Kevin, we’ve spent the last couple of days together and we’ve had some interesting conversations – and whichever way it goes it’s better for us to know sooner rather than later.”

He added: “It’s up to McLaren to make the decison and I will respect their decision whichever way it goes.

“But for me, I’ve had a fairly great career in Formula One which I would love to see continue.”

The 2009 world champion, who finished eighth in this world’s title race, continued: “I’ve really enjoyed this year, I feel we’ve got a good base for a great future, it’s an exciting new challenge and I’m all for new challenges.”

Should Button lose his seat, he has been tipped to join his contemporary in F1, Mark Webber, driving sports cars at Porsche. Asked whether he might be minded to turn down an offer from McLaren now that the affair had dragged on so long, he insisted: “I want to drive for McLaren.

“For me the last few months have been very tricky. Two months ago was very difficult when my future was uncertain but the last few weeks I’ve had so much support from fans and social media it’s given me confidence and kept me relaxed in the decision making and I’m in a good place wherever my future takes me.”

It would be no problem teaming up with the twice world champion Alonso, he said, adding: “He’s a guy who would be a massive challenge working with because you always want to beat your team-mate but an exciting challenge.”

Button has out-qualified and out-performed Magnussen, who finished 11th in the championship, on the track this season but the 34-year-old Briton is the more expensive choice. “Any decision has to be supported by the shareholders and the board,” Dennis has said.

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