IndyCar driver and total badass Simona de Silvestro has signed on with Sauber F1 as an "affiliated driver." Here's what that means, for her and the sport.
At the moment it means that "The Swiss Missile" de Silvestro won't immediately race for Sauber, particularly since she doesn't have then FIA Super License, which is required for racing F1 cars.
What it does mean is that Sauber will be training her so she can get her Super License and maybe, possibly, a race seat in the 2015 season.
Sauber's team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said that she fully supports Simona's goal of racing in F1.
After four years in IndyCar, Simona's ambition is to enter Formula one in 2015. We regard her as a very talented race driver, and we, therefore, decided to take her on board as an 'affiliated driver' and support her on her way to the pinnacle of motorsport.
De Silvestro, who once qualified for the Indy 500 with second-degree burns on her hands after a fiery crash and was named IndyCar rookie of the year back in 2010, told RACER that F1 is her "ultimate goal" and that going to F1 is "a big jump, but I'm ready to do this."
De Silvestro running full F1 races would be huge news, because while women have tested for F1 recently, such as Susie Wolff and the late Maria de Villota, a woman hasn't occupied a race seat in a Formula One car since 1992.
(Hat tip to Maxyenko!)
Photo Credit: AP