F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Calderon wants a chance to go up against the boys in F1

Sauber test driver Tatiana Caldron is "crossing her fingers", hoping to get a chance to measure herself in the future against F1's current crop of drivers.

The 25-year-old Columbia sampled a Sauber F1 car for the first time back in November during a filming day conducted by the team after the Mexican Grand Prix.

Calderon then followed that outing up with a two-day test at Fiorano, covering 594 kilometers in a Ferrari-powered C32, the young woman performed consistently and without putting a foot wrong.

"I think I showed I could be competitive in an F1 car," she told Motorsport.com. "I drove alone, so it would be great to compare myself with their drivers and I hope I will get a chance.

"We’ll have to wait and see, but I’m crossing my fingers it will be like this.

"It’s good they gave me a chance and I responded well. One thing at a time, but when they see I can do well, they will probably want to test me in something a bit more difficult."

Before the new year, Calderon was also offered an opportunity to sample Formula E's Gen2 car when she took part in the series' post-race test at Ad Diriyah with Techeetah, an experience which could be repeated later this month in Marrakesh.

"I felt like they were really happy with the work I did, on the sim as well, so it’s nice to know I could maybe have the chance to test again," she said.

"Also [Marrakesh] is not a women’s test anymore. They are looking at me now not as a female and [just] as a racing driver, so that’s quite nice."

While Formula E could represent an option in the future, Calderon has set her sights first and foremost on securing a drive in the 2019 FIA Formula 2 championship and on consolidating her relationship with Sauber.

"I think they [Sauber] are quite happy with what we did, and I would love to stay, but first we need to sort out F2 and then sit down with them," she added.

"I hope we can work everything out to be together next year. We both want it, so it should be a matter of time and putting everything together."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Mekies: ‘We all agree’ F1 must bring back flat-out qualifying

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has made it clear: Formula 1 must rediscover the…

5 hours ago

‘Rusty, me?’: Perez fires back at Andretti’s Cadillac claim

Sergio Perez isn’t taking lightly the suggestion that his return to Formula 1 with Cadillac…

6 hours ago

Formula 1’s heartfelt gift to new dad Fernando Alonso

While Aston Martin’s F1 car is currently giving Fernando Alonso some massive engine vibrations and…

7 hours ago

Hill says unhappy Verstappen ‘should stop and do something else’

For a driver who has spent years bending F1 to his will, Max Verstappen suddenly…

9 hours ago

‘He’s up against it’: Brundle fears Sainz facing career dead end in F1

For Carlos Sainz, what was meant to be a strong second season at Williams is…

10 hours ago

Alonso’s brutal verdict: ‘High-speed corners now charging stations’

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has delivered another withering verdict on Formula 1’s 2026 regulations…

11 hours ago