Formula 1: How Monisha Kaltenborn wants to revolutionize racing

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Sit in a Formula 1 car and race over the racetracks in Monza, Imola or Spa. For many motorsport fans, this is a dream that can hardly be fulfilled in reality. But at least digitally, this has been possible for a number of years in a wide variety of simulators.

For example, at “Racing Unleashed”, a Swiss company that produces detailed simulators and wants to revolutionize motorsport. The company is managed by a woman who has been known in racing for years and has also left her mark in Formula 1: Monisha Kaltenborn.

She was a pioneer in the pinnacle of motorsport. In October 2012 she became the first female team boss in Formula 1. A mainly male-dominated scene in which she asserted herself and led the Sauber team for several years until she left in 2017.

During this period of time, she helped ensure that the Sauber team also gave young female drivers a chance to one day drive in Formula 1 – for example the Swiss Simona De Silvestro or Tatiana Calderón, who drove in Formula 2 last season. Both should be developed into Formula 1 drivers. So far they haven’t taken this step.

Digital racing should not replace analogue

Kaltenborn is currently trying to create another opportunity to offer entry into motorsport. Not exclusively for women, but they should also benefit from it. For four years she has been the managing director of “Racing Unleashed”, a company that manufactures simulators with the aim of further developing motorsport.

Monisha Kaltenborn has been working for Racing Unleashed since 2019 and was previously active in Formula 1.Image: Racing Unleashed / Racing Unleashed

For Kaltenborn, digital racing should not completely replace analogue. She sees both types of motorsport as important, complementing each other and shows how things are already going so far: “Max Verstappen or Lando Norris are good examples of drivers who can switch between the virtual and the analogue world,” she says in an interview with watson.

Simulators offer a number of advantages. For example, they are more sustainable in terms of CO₂ emissions. “We have no CO₂ emissions because our engines are based on a mathematical model,” Kaltenborn explains the simulators of “Racing Unleashed”.

Of course, these simulators also have to be produced, but Kaltenborn asserts that her company is always on the lookout for materials that are “even more sustainable”. In addition, there would be wear and tear on parts of the simulator, such as the pedals. However, this closure also exists in normal racing cars.

Another positive effect of simulators is the savings in travel. While the Formula 1 circus travels several thousand kilometers a year all over the world, transporting vast quantities of tires, spare parts and other equipment, the “Racing Unleashed” simulators are located in so-called lounges.

Formula 1 simulators in Switzerland, Munich and Madrid

There are three in Switzerland, one in Munich and one in Madrid. “The drivers are not gathered in one place and then travel across the globe. They only have to go to the lounge with the shortest journey,” explains Kaltenborn.

The big goal for the current year is to expand the lounges even more globally. According to Kaltenborn, it should “go beyond the European borders – to the USA, Asia or the Arab world.”

The drivers have a total of three screens in front of them and the simulator to see the route.Image: Racing Unleashed / Racing Unleashed

The former Sauber boss also sees room for improvement for the sustainability of her company. Electricity from alternative sources, with which the simulators are then operated, is one aspect.

In addition, Kaltenborn emphasizes the advantage of simulators as an entry point into racing. The offer is very “low-threshold” compared to the analog one. “In karting, a season can easily cost 200,000 euros. In addition, there are costly trips.”

An F1 simulator costs between 80,000 and 85,000. A GT simulator will also be produced in the future.Image: Racing Unleashed / Racing Unleashed

An annual subscription in the lounges of their simulators, with which you can drive and train unlimitedly, costs the equivalent of a little more than 2400 euros. There could also be prizes from the weekly competitions.

The organization is divided into two leagues. The Challenger League for the beginning, the Racer League for advanced or professionals. “5,000 francs can be won on every race weekend,” explains Kaltenborn, an advantage for very good drivers. However, it also requires a lot of training.

Formula 1 simulator: Equal opportunities for all participants

Because the simulators are based on a uniform model, Kaltenborn sees equal opportunities here. All participants in a challenge therefore have the same potential in the car. “The focus is therefore on driving skills,” she says.

Kaltenborn also hopes that her simulator program will increase the proportion of women in racing. This is supported by the fact that young women often do not receive enough sponsorship money to remain active in racing. The small amount for unrestricted participation compared to karting could help.

At the moment, however, Racing Unleashed is actually looking different. “Unfortunately, the proportion looks bad for us too,” Kaltenborn had to admit in an interview with watson. There are no women in the final classification of the Racer League 2022.

However, the Swiss company has already shown that it can serve as a springboard into analogue racing. “We have done a project with the English Motor Sport Federation. A boy and a girl were searched online for a Formula 4 seat each. They drove in our simulators for the final lap of the elimination round,” explains Kaltenborn.

Kaltenborn believes it is realistic for a woman to drive in Formula 1. “It will all depend on whether she gets the chance to prove herself beforehand. But that’s mostly in the hands of men,” she says. The simulators could now have opened up another way into racing.