Sidepodcast - All for F1 and F1 for all

Five things to look forward to in 2013 (Part 4) - Monisha's first full year - Sauber have F1's first female team principal on board for 2013

Published by Christine

Pocket F1 Handbook

This series is to celebrate the launch of my latest book, the Pocket F1 Handbook : Guide to the 2013 Grand Prix Season which features all you need to know about drivers, teams and tracks for the coming year. There's also a top ten list of things to look forward to over the coming months, and in anticipation of the first race just days away, we're looking at five of the items - expanding on the topic and counting down until the Australian Grand Prix. This is the fourth of five, celebrating Sauber's main lady.

This year, Sauber's new team principal Monisha Kaltenborn will become the first female to take the helm of an F1 outfit from the start of the season, and hopefully steer them through a full championship campaign. Monisha has gradually been making her way to the top of the Sauber team, getting more and more involved in the day to day running.

From the legal department, she has made her way onto the board and up to CEO, before taking over duties from owner Peter Sauber as he gradually took steps backwards. Her first significant high profile moment came when she appeared outside the Monaco medical centre, to report on Sergio Pérez's condition after his big accident in qualifying. She handled herself, and the situation, impeccably and we started to take notice.

Peter Sauber finally confirmed his second retirement from the Team Principal role in October last year, handing the position to Kaltenborn. She guided the team to the end of the season, and will start her first full year as Team Principal in 2013. It's a great opportunity for her, and a marvellous step towards F1 becoming more open to women. Upon her promotion, Monisha spoke of the added pressure that could bring.

It is a lot of responsibility because if you mess it up it is even worse than if a man were to do that because people will probably point and say after all she was just a woman. You have to be more careful and maybe that creates a bit more pressure than if a man had risen to the same position.

I hope it will change. F1 is a bit slow on that. I hope more women will come up and the most important thing is to give them the opportunity.

- Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal, Sauber

Sauber have all the makings of a good season, they've got some good consistency from 2012 and some momentum from four podiums that will push them forward. It's all change on the driver front, but they have two exciting and eager chaps on board who want to get the team back onto the podium once more.

Peter Sauber is still on hand to support Monisha through her first year in control, and the team have all the makings of a strong midfield runner, maybe even pushing up to the front when the conditions and tyres behave. Through it all, there's no doubt that Kaltenborn will be at the helm, keeping her cool, and wearing those awesome pearls.

All content in the series Five things to look forward to in 2013