Simona de Silvestro has moved one step closer to becoming a Formula 1 driver.  

Women drivers in Formula 1 has long been a topic of discussion. The Swiss race car driver was recently announced as an “affiliate” driver for the Sauber F1 team. The 25 year old Swiss was named the 2010 rookie of the year in IZOD IndyCars and became the first woman to finish on the podium on a street circuit in the American racing series.

“This is a major step towards me achieving a life-long dream and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to take this step with such a great team,” de Silvestro said. Sauber is a team with a legacy and the only Swiss team in Formula 1, which I think makes this even more exciting. I can’t thank Monisha Kaltenborn and Peter Sauber enough for their support and belief in my abilities and for giving me this chance,” de Silvestro told AUTOSPORT.  “I’m thrilled to have this extremely unique platform on which to prepare myself to take on the challenge.”

de Silvestro has spent four years in the IndyCar series and says becoming a Formula 1 driver is a “life-long dream.” In 2014 her duties for Sauber will include track and simulator testing and working towards her goal of obtaining a superlicence in the hopes of securing a full race seat in 2015.