Ex-F1 driver caps surprise career switch after qualifying for Winter Olympics

A former IndyCar racer and Formula 1 test driver has achieved her dream of qualifying for the Winter Olympics after a complete change of career. Simona de Silvestro has spent many years competing on tarmac circuits but, in recent years, has been more familiar with ice following her decision to change sporting disciplines.

She is a pioneer in female motorsport, having driven 71 times in IndyCar and come very close to landing an F1 race seat. De Silvestro was a test driver for Sauber in 2014, driving an F1 car in a private test and was considered a strong candidate for a place on the 2015 grid, before the opportunity vanished when she and the Swiss team parted ways.

The Swiss-Italian racer switched to Formula E and later headed Down Under to drive in the Australian Supercars series. But it was in 2021 that she decided to make a change and tried to pursue a path to the top of another sport, choosing to focus all her efforts in bobsleigh with a view to qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

And she achieved that goal, confirming on social media that she will represent the home nation in Milano-Cortina this month. De Silvestro wrote: "We officially made it. We're going to the Olympic Games. Proof that a little crazy, mixed with belief, can make the impossible real. It all started with a dream that I wasn't scared to chase! I cannot wait to represent Italy in Milano Cortina 2026."

In a 2024 interview, De Silvestro explained the rationale behind her decision to leave competitive motorsport behind. She said: "I think it all comes down to the fact that I just love sport. When I was a kid, I used to watch the Olympics and I always felt inspired by the Games. And to be able to do that once in my lifetime would be amazing.

"So, at some point I started going through all the Olympic sports to see which ones I could realistically take part in. That's how I came to bobsleigh, because I feel it's the closest thing to driving a race car.

"Three years ago, I finally decided to go for it 100 percent. I managed to find a way in, after a lot of awkward phone calls. Now I'm part of the Italian national team, trying to qualify for the Olympic Games. It's a hard dream to achieve for sure, but I think it's quite uplifting when you have something completely new to strive for. So far, it's been a fun but challenging journey.

"In motorsport, you have the race that is unfolding and it's quite long. A lot of things are happening on the track. But in bobsleigh, it all comes down to a few short minutes, and getting everything out of that first push. If you make one tiny mistake, it can hurt quite badly. In one sense, with the speed, it's comparable, but the way you approach bobsleigh compared to car racing is way different."

The 37-year-old hasn't completely given up on competing in motorsport again, though. Having taken part in a special all-female Formula E test in 2024, she confirmed: "I'd like to do the Indy 500 again. I still have big goals."