System 3 driver Sophia Floersch says F1 Academy is getting used as “pinkwashing”, a time period which signifies being superficially sympathetic in the direction of equality or inclusion with out critically making an attempt to enhance the scenario.
The declare comes after inaugural champion Marta Garcia conceded that final weekend’s System Regional European occasion in Monza was “in all probability my final race in a single-seater”.
Garcia had been competing for the Iron Dames workforce and accomplished the marketing campaign because the lowest-placed driver to have began all 20 races – failing to attain a degree and recording a finest end of 14th.
Reacting to Garcia’s information on social media, Floersch, who has lengthy been a critic of all-female classes such because the F1 Academy and W Sequence earlier than it, stated: “I am so sorry for you, Marta.
“It appears like they used you [in] 2023 for short-time advertising. With feminine drivers, [that] visibility would not assist to maintain up with the stopwatch. That’s not a secret. Visibility simply helps F1 however not feminine pilots.”
As a part of the prize for claiming the F1 Academy title, Garcia’s FRECA seat for 2024 was totally funded, with this value being break up between F1 Academy, Prema, Tatuus and Pirelli.
Marta Garcia, F1 Academy champion
Photograph by: James Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
She was partnered within the Iron Dames set-up by Doriane Pin, who presently sits second within the F1 Academy standings however equally did not register a degree in FRECA.
“Have you ever discovered one sponsor, Marta?,” added Floersch, who is set to compete for Nissan at Formula E’s all-female test in November. “They then drive you onto the sideline.
“What occurred in 2024 was so dangerous. They level the finger at you regardless that they know precisely what it takes. The male skills of the workforce bosses present the way it’s finished.
“The place are all the ladies’s programmes that have been introduced in 2021/2022? Why media doesn’t ask the precise questions? It’s so unhappy. Pinkwashing. Let’s make an inventory of feminine drivers since 2021 and ask them what occurs in racing.”
Autosport has reached out to System 1 for remark.