When Bernie Ecclestone used sexist remarks against Danica Patrick: ‘Women should be dressed in white like domestic appliances’

When Bernie Ecclestone used sexist remarks against Danica Patrick: ‘Women should be dressed in white like domestic appliances’

Bernie Ecclestone (left) and Danica Patrick (right)

Bernie Eccleston, the former CEO of Formula 1 group, recently got under serious allegations of money laundering of worth 400 million euros. But this isn’t the first time former CEO has been charged for his deeds. Mid-June 2005 saw another dark side of Bernie Ecclestone when he was found guilty of sexist comments regarding Danica Patrick. Danica in 2005 started her first Indy car series and took three poles throughout her rookie season.

Ecclestone when asked about her performance, congratulated the lady driver very decently until he turned the tides and trashed talked about the gender norms society back then believed to be true. Ecclestone in Indianapolis was asked about Danica’s success that weekend to which he answered,

YouTube video

“Yep, she did a good job, didn’t she? Super. Didn’t think she was going to make it,” said Bernie Eccleston.
He ended his statement with an assessment that generalised all the women racing drivers around the world,
“You know I’ve got one of those wonderful ideas … women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances, ” said former Formula 1 group CEO.

FS Video

Also read: “It’s not the situation right now” : Mattia Binotto asserts Ferrari won’t pick a number one driver

Bernie Ecclestone’s other statements regarding Women Racing Driver

Bernie Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie never stopped criticising women drivers, back in Feb 2000 he had a cut thought of Men drivers having an upper hand on Women Racers. He went on to sexualise women on an entry to Formula 1 which he hoped not to happen in the upcoming years.

“She would have to be a woman who was blowing away the boys. … What I would really like to see happen is to find the right girl, perhaps a black girl with super looks, preferably Jewish or Muslim, who speaks Spanish, ” said Bernie Ecclestone.

As of the current timeline, things have changed drastically with new women racers and engineers working within the team. Also with the introduction to the W series, women have created a lot more opportunities to get their seats in Formula 1.

Also read: “We can’t afford that in the Championships” : Sergio Perez aims to clinch victory at Paul Ricard after 3 DNFs this season

Also read: Report: Haas renews contract with Kevin Magnussen for 2023