Marie Claire

Why action men get the girls

March 10 - 16, 2010
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It's Formula 1 season and as usual the hype and excitement that grips the island has completely failed to enthrall me, although I have to admit there are a couple of parties I'm looking forward to going to!

But, as is usual with this time of year my article needs to be F1 based, if at least only slightly, and while I was at a complete loss what to write about, our esteemed editor, Stan, peaked my interest when he suggested me talking about the women behind the men.

Now that's something I can relate to; how woman's mind works and why she would be attracted to a man who does something so dangerous for a living. Or, is it a case of being attracted to an Alpha male, who just happens to do something dangerous for a living?

There's no denying how precarious Formula One is. It was only last year that Felipe Massa was hit on the helmet by a rogue spring at the Hungarian GP qualifier. The result of which was severe head injuries for which he had to be put into a medically-induced coma before undergoing surgery.

Less that a year later he is back to full fitness and ready to race again in Bahrain.While he may consider being back behind the wheel is like a gift sent from heaven I wonder what is racing through the mind of his wife Anna Rafaela Bassi? She was pregnant with their first child at the time of the accident, and is, I'm sure, showing her husband all the love and support in the world. But, it's not hard to imagine that deep down she must be feeling less than thrilled that her man is putting himself in harm's way again.

Three times Formula 1 World champion Ayrton Senna wasn't nearly so fortunate when he suffered severe head injuries after his car struck an unprotected concrete barrier at the San Morina Grand Prix Imola Circuit in 1994.

The tragedy was devastating for family and friends and millions of fans throughout the world.

Ayrton Senna's nephew, Bruno Senna, of whom Ayrton was once quoted saying: 'If you think I'm fast just wait until you see my nephew Brun' will be carrying on his uncle's legacy this year as he makes his Formula 1 debut. I can't help wondering how the women in his life must feel about that.

World Champion Lewis Hamilton' on-off-on-again girlfriend is the lead singer of the incredibly successful Pussycat Dolls. Pop singers and models galore are regularly on the arms of one Formula 1 driver or the other and while the whole glamour side of it can't be entirely discounted, I'm left with the overwhelming impressing that it's not the sport itself, but the kind of man who makes this sport his life that is the real attraction.

Yes, many women are attracted to danger and men are always complaining that women are only attracted to bad boys but I think deep down it's not the action that's the attraction - it's the characteristics behind those action that are the real draw; the Alpha male personality that has to be present in any man that strives to be the best.

To be the best in any field you have to be prepared to take risks. Strength, talent, charisma and power go hand-in-hand and that's a heady combination, hard to resist for even the most intelligent and independent of women.

It's a theory, anyway.







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