23/03/2014
NEWS STORY
Sauber's "affiliated driver", Simona De Silvestro, has been spending lots of time at the team's HQ ahead of her maiden outing for the Swiss team.
"I've been there quite a bit because I started my training program a week ago so I've been there pretty much every day," she told F1web.it. "Not a lot of people are there right now because they're at the Grands Prix, but I've seen everyone else and have been there a lot since we signed.
"I haven't tested in the simulator yet," she admitted, "but I do have some sessions scheduled."
The Swiss youngster, who in in 2010 became the first woman to earn a podium finish on a street circuit in IndyCar, revealed that she hopes to gain her superlicence at the forthcoming test sessions at Barcelona or Silverstone; "but it's not yet decided".
"Right now I'm looking forward to the test I'm going to do in the older car," she added.
Asked about the role of "affiliated driver", she said: The biggest thing is that my position is a little bit special in that it's in preparation for next year while a traditional test driver is usually somebody that has a little bit of experience in F1 so that if something happens to one of the main drivers the test driver is ready to go. They know how an F1 car works. Being an affiliated driver is more about preparation and learning before getting into the car."
Chris Balfe