Q: Carmen, you managed to seal a development driver role in Formula One with Lotus. Can you tell us about the road that got you here? When was the idea born? Carmen Jorda: The idea was born a long time ago, when I was racing in GP3. I think women should be in motorsport and when I saw that Susie (Wolff) made it into F1 three years ago - two years as a development driver and one year as test driver with Williams - I thought that if she can do it I can do it. I looked at two teams... Q: What was the other team? CJ: Another one. But the deal came with Lotus. This was a really good option. I have a lot of confidence in how they are supporting me, so I am really happy!

Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 4 Carmen Jorda (ESP) Lotus F1 Team. Formula One Testing, Day 1, Thursday 26th February 2015. Barcelona, Spain. © Lotus F1 Team Carmen Jorda (ESP) Lotus F1 Development Driver at Formula One Testing, Day One, Barcelona, Spain, 26 February 2015. © Sutton Motorsport Images Carmen Jorda (ESP) Lotus F1 Development Driver Formula One Testing, Day Two, Barcelona, Spain, 27 February 2015. © Sutton Motorsport Images Carmen Jorda (ESP) Lotus F1 Development Driver at Formula One World Championship, Rd2, Malaysian Grand Prix, Practice, Sepang, Malaysia, Friday 27 March 2015. © Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close

Q: Did it help that with Susie had already established herself within the paddock? CJ: I am from a bit younger a generation than she is, so I watched her career all the time. And when she made it the thought of course immediately popped up: if there can be one, then why not two! Q: Do you think it is difficult for women to break into F1? If so, why? CJ: Well, I think society has changed a lot in the last few decades. You see women in better jobs, managing to have careers of their own in areas that were deemed male for a long time. Nowadays you see women competing in their own championships in most sports: football, tennis, skiing - you name it - and in none of these championships are men and women competing against each other. So the question is: why not have a F1 world championship for women? Q: Formula One is celebrating 65 years of competition this year, but in all that time only one female driver - Lella Lombardi 40 years ago - has scored points, or half points to be exact. How do you rate your chances of topping that result? CJ: I don’t know about Susie’s position, but in mine we want to go step by step. We are planning the season around testing the E23 Hybrid for the first time - and for that I have to get ready. It will need a lot of simulator work. Don’t forget, it’s my first year in Formula One. Then let’s see what happens next year or the year after. Q: Where does F1 racing differ from the other series you’ve participated in? And in what areas do you need to keep working in order to be ready? CJ: GP3 is quite a high-level championship, and there I was the only female. And in GP3 the challenges are quite different from F1. For example a GP3 car has no power steering so you have to work hard with the steering wheel - that is not so in F1. But in F1 you have more downforce so your neck has to work harder; and you have much more G-force, so you have to train differently to be physically ready. That will be my passion for the next time. I am going through a tough physical programme! Q: What will the next few months involve for you? CJ: Right now it is about spending time in Enstone - that is where I improve most - and being at the races where I take part in the team meetings, the strategy meetings, to get a better understanding.

With Lotus we now go step by step - I am in no hurry Carmen Jorda