The pink quotas, which in this case become “red”, increase inside the Ferrari factory. The employment rate of blue-collar and white-collar workers has increased by almost one percentage point in the last year, from 14% to 14.8%. A small victory for those who do not see motorsport as a predominantly male discipline. In the racing department of Maranello, the roles of head of mechanical and hydraulic technologies group of the engine room, of quality manager of racing department and that of costs manager, are all female. In fact, there are three women at the top of Ferrari management.
The very young Giada Montorsi, at the age of only 35, plays a key role in the sector aimed at developing the power unit. After getting a degree in mechanical engineering, she now manages the fluid system of the single-seater engine. From Spain there is Maria Mendoza, 45, already part of the Ferrari family since 2017: now she has the role of quality manager of the racing department. Last but not least Laura Scamazzon, a 44-year-old from Turin, who is at the top of the costs administration. Obviously a fundamental role also taking into consideration the latest developments regarding the budget cap.
“A small step for motorsport, a big step for humanity” . It’s really like this? Well, the outcome of the answer could vary according to the currents of thought. There are those who argue that women are moving towards total emancipation, others say that there is still a long way to go, but also those who rail against the “feminist” movements of recent years. The initial presupposition is one, and it must remain so. Women’s emancipation, feminism and the desire for redemption are not a revolution of women for women, but it is a universal concept aimed at everyone.
What makes us think that? The news itself. The statement that three women are at the top of Ferrari’s strategic sector is considered news because we are not used to what normalcy should be, that is a girl who is passionate about Motorsport so much that she makes a career in this domain. We are happy that these three brilliant industry experts play important roles within an automotive industry excellence such as Ferrari, but looking at the other side of the coin we also notice possible complications they could face.
The caustic environment does not strictly concern the factory, the inconveniences already begin in the university spaces. Montorsi is accused of the fact that women are unable to pursue a course of study as mechanical engineering, because they are not up to par. Maria Mendoza says that the men she is working with, her colleagues both in school and work, wonder about her presence in that role, as something unknown. She also admits that, as a woman, she has to work harder to be reworded.
Formula 1 is a purely masculine environment nowadays, as also demonstrated by Jean Todt’s words about Maya Weug’s entry into the Ferrari Driver Academy. “The FIA Girls on Track program is key to our commitment to supporting gender diversity in our sport .” And, therefore, Ferrari continues to work to break down these barriers that have impregnated our society for too long. The standards, however, are done primarily by those comment and read the news. But the problem (perhaps) lies precisely in this.
Leave a Reply