Sophia Floersch criticizes Ferrari's female driver plans

German driver Sophia Floersch believes that Ferrari's pledge to promote a female driver to its prestigious Driver Academy for the sake of diversity is wrong.

Scuderia boss Mattia Binotto recently spoke of the House of Maranello's desire to include a female racer among its juniors in the near-term future.

"The Academy [is also looking] for women in the future," said Binotto. "Women should be part of the Ferrari Academy.

"That's something on which we are working right now to make sure that it may happen very soon.

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Floersch, who famously survived a horrendous crash in the 2018 Macau Grand Prix and raced in the Formula Regional Championship in 2019, responded on social media to Binotto's rather comments, insisting merit rather than gender should be at the forefront of a team's choice regarding its drivers.

The 19-year-old also referenced former French rally driver Michèle Mouton who won four world championship rounds and finished runner in the series in 1982.

"Is this the spirit of modern people?", the 19-year-old wrote on Twitter.

"As long as we are just marketing stuff in racing nothing will change. We have to show that we are equal. Proof of concept. Like Michele Mouton".

Floersch is nominated this year for a Laureus Award in the 'Comeback of the Year' category, an accolade she earned following her comeback after her Macau pains.

The only woman currently involved in F1 is 2019 W Series champion Jamie Chadwick who enjoys a simulator and development role with Williams.  However, the young Briton has yet to take to the track on-board an F1 car in the real world.

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