Sauber signs GP3's Calderon as development driver

Sauber F1 has signed GP3 racer Tatiana Calderón as a development driver for 2017. The 23-year-old native of Colombia will continue to race in GP3 for a second season; she debuted with Arden Motorsport in 2016, where she became the second female driver to score points.

Calderón will take part in Sauber's driver development program, mostly taking part in simulator training sessions and coaching with the engineers on-site during some GP weekends as well as at the Hinwil factory.

"We are very pleased to welcome Tatiana onboard to the Sauber family," said team principal Monisha Kalternborn. "We have the opportunities and facilities to provide Tatiana a professional platform on which she can further develop her knowledge and skills in racing. I am convinced that we can provide her lots of in-depth motorsport know-how for her future career in racing."

Calderón began in karting when she was nine years old. In 2012 Calderón moved to Europe to compete in several single-seater racing series. She finished second overall in the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 in 2015.

"I am extremely happy to join the Sauber F1 Team as a development driver," Calderón said. "I want to thank Monisha Kaltenborn and the whole team for giving me this opportunity, and also Escuderia Telmex for their support. I am grateful to be working with such an established Formula 1 team and to benefit from its long experience. I look forward to working with the team and learning as much as I can. It is a step closer to my dream – one day competing in Formula 1!"