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

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1. Posted by gturner38, 24/03/2014 18:20

"Given the fact that F1 teams have put GP3 drivers in similar roles (see Alex Rossi), I don't see any problem at all with putting in a driver who has podiumed in Indycar. It sounds as if the earliest she could eve realistically be called on to race would be 2016, and seeing the difficulty a guy like Sam Bird has had finding the opportunity to step up, it's unlikely that would happen for her then."

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2. Posted by Paul C, 24/03/2014 2:59

"Indy Car isn't an easy series. Ask some of the former F1 drivers who have tried it recently. deSilvestro might just be the best female driver in F1 ever. Can she be any worse than Suzy Wolff?"

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3. Posted by Kkiirmki, 23/03/2014 20:11

"de Silvestro has hardly set the world alight in Indy Car so I'm struggling to see why she is being considered in an F1 role. I'm all for more women in F1 and motorsport in general but I'm not sure she deserves the role simply because she is a one. Scott Dixon, a 1 time champion at the time, completed an unsuccessful test with Williams in 2004 so what makes Sauber thinks she’s up to the task? I realise it’s only as an ‘affiliated driver’ but her open wheel career so far doesn't seem to warrant any special attention. "

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De Silvestro spending lots of time at Hinwil

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