Think Like A Race Car Driver

Tatiana Calderon Sets Her Sights on Formula 1

Late last fall, we asked race car driver Tatiana Calderon about her ultimate goal in the sport. Calderon was zooming in from Japan, quarantined and locked in on training mode for the 2021 motorsports season.

“I want to be a full time Formula One Driver,” she said. Calderon took a breath, steely intention in her voice. Her expression was resolute, even on the screen. “That’s my goal, my dream, and I why I wake every morning, and I will keep on chasing that.”

Calderon is the rare athlete who's on track to be among the fastest humans on the planet. She had all the necessary pieces in place early on; she started racing at a young age, and came from a supportive family who worked in the car business and had the resources to support her. But most of all, she’s had the tenacity to stick with it for two decades, despite the odds stacked against her success. At the top level, there are only two dozen positions for top tier Formula 1 drivers.

“If I want to do something, I do it right, and push in every direction.” ”

“My mom would rather have me play tennis than (be) in a go kart,” she said. “I had to convince them. I had to push them every day. They could see how much I enjoy the races on the weekends. I was never going to parties from school; I wanted to be racing instead. I was very lucky that my parents always supported me. It was about proving to them how much I care about what I was doing. If I want to do something, I do it right, and push in every direction.” 

This year, she edges closer to her F1 dream behind the wheel for the Alfa Romeo Orlen team as a test driver. She competes in Super Formula in Japan, and for Richard Mille Racing Team in the LMP2 Series with co-drivers Beitske Visser and Sophia Flörsch. The historic all-women trio will compete in in the FIA World Endurance Championship this season. Driving in this closed cockpit series carries prestige in the racing community and Calderon and her teammates will compete at famed races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Sebring, 6 Hours of Fuji, and 8 Hours of Bahrain.

Her older sister took Calderon to the track when she was a kid, and at age 9, she started kart racing, “I fell in love with the speed, the adrenaline,” she says. “I grew up on Juan Pablo Montoya. He was reaching Formula 1 when I started karting. I’ve always been very competitive. My goal was always to race in Formula 1.” It’s been a steady ascent for Colombian-born Calderon as she pushes toward her dream. She’s competed in the FIA F3 European Championship, the GP3 Series, World Series Formula 3.5, and FIA Formula 2.

Calderon is now 28, and her sister still shares in her journey, serving as her manager. Last year, she competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona in the No. 19 GEAR Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO. She’s even raced against her childhood hero Montoya. 

Formula 1 drivers have an air of mystique around them, dramatized in shows like Drive to Survive and video games like F1 2020. Calderon already has that presence. She presents like someone poised to go places, steady and focused, even from afar.

Tatiana Calderon and her Alfa Romeo Orlen teammates.

“Like any athlete you have your routine, what you can eat, how you can feel better and perform. I wake up earlier than the alarm. You want to get out there. I do a few mobility exercises. It’s very tough out in the car. I have breakfast, head to track, and meet with engineers. We discuss our strategy for qualifying, a little bit of warmup for my body, listen to music, and talk about how I’m feeling. It’s about you and the car and extracting the maximum performance.”

She has an intense training regime that focuses on strengthening specific muscle groups. Her Instagram bio reads “Speed is my nature” and she shows off her gym routine. “You have to be able to train your upper body. My neck grew 9 centimeters because of the training I was doing. (In the car) I could not turn my head. You don’t see it when you see it on TV, but the G forces are unbelievable.”

Through trial and error she’s developed a unique regime that takes into account her physical differences from the male racers. “Our bodies need different things. It takes a lot of time to get all the knowledge and experience,” she says. She focuses on upper body strength to support her behind the wheel, because there’s no power steering in her race car. For reflexes, she work works with lights on the mat, and juggles tennis balls.

Tatiana Calderon started driving karts at age 9.

During the pandemic, Calderon used a training simulator to compensate for days away from the track. “With quarantine I got my own sim. I’m a big rookie. I’m using Fanatec, the Formula 1 version,” she said. “I’m here in Japan and I’ve never been to any circuit here. I learned them online. In esports you have the pressure and competitive attitude, but nothing beats the reality. It’s a great tool to keep us sharp during the winter and to keep improving on the pressure side on how you can manage your breathing better. Of course it's not a reality, but you are so into the game that you react as if you were on the track.”

She is almost clinical, explaining her performance behind the wheel. She consulted on modifications to her car’s pedals and steering wheel, based on what she observed. A millisecond makes the difference in motorsports competitions, and every tweak can lead to an advantage. “For those last four tenths, you need to be in the zone. That’s when technicality is an issue. I had cramps in my hands. I needed the steering wheel to be a bit thinner.” She’s solution oriented. “It’s a matter of physics. What do I need to match these guys? 

Her LMP2 team is one of two all-female teams competing on the grid, but Calderon believes she can compete equally alongside the male drivers. She’s been active in the FIA Women in Motorsport commission, and serves as an ambassador for the organization. “It’s one of the only sports where we can compete in equal terms.” 

She speaks with most joy when she talks about driving, even in less than pristine conditions. “The rain is something I enjoy. You need to have a special feeling for the grip. You have to be more delicate and more patient because you cannot push as much as you can in the dry because of the slippery conditions. It requires you to change your lines compared to dry driving.  You cannot brake as hard. You have to change the racing line.”

Her enthusiasm for her sport is infectious. “Nobody should put limits on what you can achieve. Guys don’t know our bodies and what we are capable of. For me if you find your passion, you follow your dreams and work hard. I absolutely feel there are no limits. Keep dreaming, keep working hard and be patient.”

Photography courtesy of Alfa Romeo.