The new Formula 1 expert in the field of SRF: Simona De Silvestro is also a bobsleigh pilot

“I grew up with motorcycles, my passion is motorsport,” says the 35-year-old, whose father had a car garage and introduced his daughter to karting and watching Formula 1 races at an early age. «I was a Schumacher fan. He won everything then,” she says, laughingly admitting that she is not entirely impartial when it comes to the best racing team. ‘That red car. Ultimately, everyone loves it because it is so special.” It refers to the red Ferrari racing car.

As a racing driver, she almost ended up in Formula 1 in 2014 with the Sauber racing team from the Oberland of Zurich. However, in the end it failed because of money. “It was just a disappointment,” she remembers. «At that moment I felt like I had achieved everything I could. But then they just needed drivers who brought a lot of money.

It took a few years for her to accept that her big dream didn’t fail because of her abilities. “But in life it doesn’t always work out. Looking back, I had a good career.” De Silvestro raced in the Indycars Series in the US from 2010 to 2015, then in the Australian V8 Supercars series and most recently driving GT3 sports cars in Germany.

It will remain just racing

Simona De Silvestro is clearly someone who likes speed, but also has a lot of drive herself. She proactively contacted Swiss television. “I thought about what could happen after racing. Since I feel quite comfortable in front of the camera, it made sense.” She didn’t risk anything except a no.

“I’m only on this earth once and I don’t have to be afraid to try new things.” The fact that she can now gain a foothold as a co-commentator at SRF is an exciting step for her. However, she remains active in racing.

In addition, De Silvestro is preparing for a sporting goal: the Olympic Games – as a bobsledder! “One of my crazy ideas.” 15 years ago she thought about which sport she could use to achieve this goal. «Bobsledding is the closest to my experience. When I started training, of course I had to drag my father along with his tools.” He would have thought she could have chosen a warmer job.

But his Italian heritage is one of the reasons his daughter is now switching to bobsledding for Italy. The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Cortina (It). “My great-great-grandfather was the first to climb Civetta, the highest mountain in Cortina.” And so her father and her friends try to keep up with her and support her in this speed adventure.

She also likes silence

The Silvestro can also ‘chill’. “There are weekends when I just sit in front of the TV. I’m happy when it goes from skiing to bobsleigh and then to racing or tennis.” In addition, her residence in Uri is also slowing down. «I realized that I needed more nature. I grew up in Mont-sur-Rolle in Wales and was actually a country bumpkin.”