Carrie Schreiner ahead of Formula E test for female drivers in Madrid: "Definitely the start of something"

Following the withdrawal of Sophia Flörsch, Carrie Schreiner is the only remaining German driver in the first test session for women in an FIA World Championship. The 26-year-old spoke to e-Formula.news ahead of her second Formula E test about her preparation and her expectations for the three hours on Friday afternoon.

In 2018, Carrie Schreiner was able to test the then new Gen2 car for the then new HWA Racelab team in Diriyah after the originally scheduled driver Sophia Flörsch was seriously injured in a Formula 3 accident in Macau. However, she does not see this as an advantage.

"I have to say, I can hardly remember it because it was so long ago," she describes when asked by us. "It was a tough track in Diriyah and because the drive shaft broke twice, I didn't have much track time. So it can only get better."

She really likes the idea of organising a separate test with all the teams just for women: "It's great that the women are given the opportunity to test the car and get a taste of Formula E air. Of course, the guys have already driven for three days. It will be difficult to get straight to where they are. But just the fact that we have the opportunity to be here is pretty cool. It's definitely the start of something."

Her preparation was quite difficult: just like the regular drivers, she was still preparing in the team's simulator on the circuit in Valencia before the severe weather in the region made it necessary to move the tests to Madrid. But she found an alternative, as she admits.

"It's obviously very, very bad what happened in Valencia," she describes, "but it's good for us that we were able to find an alternative. I actually drove the track at home in my simulator, without the chicane, and I have to say that I think it's quite cool. Let's see what it will be like in real life."

"Was a bit overwhelmed in the simulator at first"

The extremely complex Gen3 Evo Formula E car presents her with particular challenges. "In the simulator test with the team, when we still thought it was taking place in Valencia, I was a bit overwhelmed at first because so many things are different," she admits. "Just starting the car is a challenge in itself. But I have familiarised myself with the manual and hope that it will work well. I don't think we'll be doing the really difficult things on the few laps we have anyway."

The idea of competition also plays an important role for her during the test drives; Schreiner wants to measure herself against the other drivers in terms of her performance.

"Of course, you don't come here just to be there," she says. "Of course you want to do your best and be as far ahead as possible. The car is new to most drivers - there are very few who have driven it before. The track is also new for most of them. That means the same conditions for everyone."

The test session for the female riders will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., bringing the pre-season test in Madrid to a close.