2a0d3b2c3ef8493de643b57e025865144651d3a2

Tatiana Calderon aiming to prove women are "ready" to drive in F1 on Tuesday

17:49, 28 Oct 2018

byMatt

Tatiana Calderon will drive Sauber's F1 car on Tuesday for a filming run. She will take over from Antonio Giovinazzi who will be driving the same car in a Pirelli tyre test on the same day.

She was asked if there were any objectives she was hoping to fulfil during her 100km in the car.

"Obviously [it's] a promotional thing which is always nice," Calderon told racefans.

"But [it's] also to have a first taste, to get used to the steering wheel, to work with the guys, see how I handle the pressure I think as well.

"I am aware that there are a lot of people that doubt if we are physically ready or mentally prepared to drive Formula 1 cars and this is a way of proving that as well. So it has I think many purposes."

Next season will introduce the W series. A racing formula which hopes to give women a platform to gain entry in F1. This should help the development of women's racing, but Calderon insists there's still a long way to go in gaining respect from motorsport fans.

"Nowadays even if you're a girl it's still quite difficult to get sponsorship. I've been quite lucky I had a supportive family and I'm part of Escuderia Telmex," she added.

"We have our strengths and weaknesses and I think of course the publicity and marketing side for a female could be much better than for a guy, doing something different.

“But then on-track with the strength, with gaining the respect of the people your work with and respect on-track it always takes a little bit more time so it’s not always easy being a girl.”