Simona, you used to be a Formula E driver yourself. When you soak in this exciting atmosphere here, wouldn’t you want to get into the driver’s seat and participate in the race yourself?
Simona de Silvestro: “Yes, being a driver, and being at the race track but not being able to drive can be a little bit frustrating, because you want to drive anything you can. And for sure here, in Monaco, I think it’s kind of a bucket list type of race track which every driver would like to drive. But maybe one day I’ll get to drive again here and we’ll see.”

What is it that makes the Monaco racecourse so special?
“There are only a few tracks – I would say the Indie 500, Monaco and maybe Bathurst and Le Mans – that are the types of tracks you want to race at. Then the history here in Monaco, and the fact that the Formula E race takes place on the actual Formula 1 track, make this whole experience quite exciting.”

You’ve been racing in the Australian Supercars Series since the beginning of the new season. When you compare driving a Supercars Series car to a Formula E car, what are the main differences?
“It’s quite a different type of racing. In Formula E you have to really manage the energy, which in normal racing you don’t. So that adds a challenge. In the Supercars series, it’s really tough, you’re constantly bumping and touching, which was quite eye-opening for me, coming from an open wheel background. But I would say both have their characteristics, and it would be cool to be able to drive in all the different series.”

Once you’re out on the track, with your helmet and your gear on, you’re just like everybody else out there. But when you’re off the track, does your gender every matter?
“It’s always such a difficult question because all I know in all my racing, I’ve always been the only girl in the field. And I’ve never looked at it like as a handicap or anything like that. But for sure, as a woman, you have to prove yourself. Especially now coming from Formula E and going to Supercars, I had to prove myself. I had to prove that I belong. But once you have your helmet on we all look the same, and at the end of the day it’s the result that matters, and I think that’s what’s important in this sport. And that’s why I think motor sport is also quite exciting because it is the only sport where this is actually possible.”

What’s your advice to the youngsters, who are inspired by your story and want to follow in your footsteps?
“The biggest and most important thing, especially in racing, is if you’re passionate about it. I have always been passionate about racing, I loved cars, and really wanted to become a race car driver. So I worked very hard, and told the people around me as well that that was my dream and my goal, and ultimately they were able to help me. That’s what’s important: not to be shy about it and work hard for it.”