The ridiculousness of female F1 drivers

Did that title shock you? A female F1-fan who is against female F1-drivers? No way! 

 

Let's be clear: I'm not against female racers. I think it is a great thing and there should be a lot more showing the world that racing isn't an all men sport (anymore). But what has happened now is that female drivers are chosen because of their gender and not their talent. Just look at Carmen Jorda who has just been announced as development driver for the Lotus F1 team. 

I can honestly say I have never heard of her before, what isn't a bad thing but then I started looking for what she had won and how good she was. And where I thought to find an impressive record of achievements, I found nothing. In 2008 she became 21th in F3 with one point to her name while her team mate Germán Sánchez became world champion. Bad year? In Silverstone 2012 she became the first F3 driver not to qualify because she failed to get within the 107%-rule. She ended as 28^th in the championship. Still not impressed? In 2013 she became 30^th with a 17^th place as her best result. But last year she did better. Not much, 29^th place it was. In eight years of different Formula 3 championships, she hasn’t won any race or pole position. So if you just look at her results, there is no reason whatsoever why she got the place of development driver. None.

But there is one. Only one. She's a woman. And teams are doing what they can to show the world they are supporting female drivers. So they sign them, even if they are no good. Jorda is no contribution to the team. I honestly think Lotus is better off without her. But now they can use her in promotional activities. And that is the main reason why they want Jorda, who is more seen on red carpet events and in front of the camera than on circuit.

Even though you probably think I would defend female drivers, I actually feel sorry for her male rivals. Jorda, who finished 28th is now part of a F1 team, the male rivals who beat her race after race are still in F3 or if they are very lucky GP2. Gender equality? Let’s be clear: F1 doesn't need women. But it doesn't need men either. It needs racers. People who have an extraordinary talent and are there because they have every right to be there. It doesn't matter if they are male or female but it matters whether they are good or not. And Carmen Jorda is just not good enough for F1.

Catya Leroux

Karma is a bitch, but so is Lance Armstrong

I have been cruising through the thousands of tweets about Lance Armstrong after he was ordered to pay back 10 milllion dollar to SCA Promotions. As always, the opinions are very split. Whereas many tweet about "Karma is a bitch, Lance!" others keep it simple saying "LA won seven!".

"Lance Armstrong is a f****** criminal and an international fraud" or "Can't believe he is still not in jail!" Many people make very clear that they have no sympathy with the American at all. This is just the bill he has to pay for being an arrogant bully all those years. For sueing every single one who had the nerves not to do what he wanted. Was it a mistake when Lance sued the company in 2004 when they didn't want to pay his bonus for his Tourvictories? Probably. But at that time Armstrong never considered that he would ever admit he doped. So why not sue? He wanted the money he deserved and he got it. It's as simple as that.

I know you might think "No Cat, he didn't DESERVE that money, he's a goddamn cheater.' Yes he is. Like 95% of the cyclists during those years. So should Landis, Hincapie, Ullrich, Beloki,... pay every bonus back they ever received during their career? If you want to be completely fair, they should but that's impossible. And what's the point? Well, the companies probably want their money back they have put in a sport revolving around doping. But on the other hand they seem to forget what that dirty sport did to their companies. Trek, Nike, Oakley, they lived from Lance and Trek especially is even based on Lance. Without him they wouldn't be where they are now. So shut up, he made you.


But going back at the SCA Promotions case: they haven't got that much back from their connection with Armstrong and that's why they were one of the first to ask their money back. And it worked so I'm afraid for Lance many more cases will follow now. Will the American go bankrupt? Probably not yet but it sure will make him even more frustrated than he already is. He is the black sheep. Again. The only one who has to pay such an amount of money back. Poor Lance? (pun intended)

Should you feel sorry for former King Lance? Actually you should. In a way. There was one tweet that struck me: "This is the man who had everything and might end up with nothing". Armstrong had it all, he was invincible, on top of the world...until they pushed him down. And now, he has nothing. No, even less than nothing. Because he doesn't even deserve nothing according to some. This is the man that ten years ago millions looked up to and now most get a nasty taste in their month just saying his name. Is it his own fault? Partly. But the people spreading hate about Lance right now, are doing exactly the same as Lance did. And the companies that were sued by Lance are now sueing him back. Karma? Might be, but they better watch out, cause Lance doesn't wait for karma, he will hit back. He's a bitch as well.

Catya Leroux