Simona de Silvestro
A trailblazing Swiss-Italian driver who challenged norms in IndyCar and Formula E before pivoting to become an Olympic bobsledder.
Born 1988 (age 38)·Swiss-Italian racing driver·Birthday: September 1·Millennials
Biography
Simona de Silvestro entered the racing world with a quiet determination that often saw her outperforming her equipment. Gaining attention in the Atlantic Championship, she earned the 'Iron Maiden' moniker for her toughness, notably after a fiery crash in 2010. Her move to the IndyCar Series was a breakthrough, where she consistently extracted more from underfunded cars than seemed possible, scoring a landmark podium at the Houston street circuit in 2013. This grit caught the eye of Formula 1's Sauber team, who signed her as an affiliated test driver, a rare opportunity for a woman at that level. After stints in Formula E and Australian Supercars, she embarked on a stunning second act in bobsleigh. Applying a driver’s precision to the brakeman role, she qualified for the Swiss national team and competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics, a rare feat of crossing over between summer and winter sports at the highest level.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Simona was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Simona Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Simona's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Secured a podium finish in the IndyCar Series with a second place at the 2013 Houston Grand Prix.
- Served as a full-time affiliated test driver for the Sauber Formula One team in 2014.
- Competed for Switzerland in women's monobob at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
- Finished as the top rookie in the 2017 Australian Supercars Championship.
Did You Know?
She was the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America since 2008 when she won an Atlantic Championship event in 2009.
Her helmet design features a pink panther, a nod to her nickname 'The Pink Panther' early in her career.
She holds both Swiss and Italian citizenship.
She began her bobsleigh training in 2022 and made the Olympic team within four years.
“I’ve always believed that if you work hard, you can achieve anything.”
