Cristina Giampaoli Zonca joins Jenson Button's JBXE team in Extreme H

Christine Giampaoli Zonca is racing again! This time – in the JBX team, created by former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button.

Christine has already competed in the Extreme E electric SUV race in Saudi Arabia. And this Thursday, she will start in the new Extreme H format, which uses hydrogen as an energy source. The first stage of the Extreme H World Cup will take place in the Qiddiya desert.

Christine says that the offer from JBX came at the last minute: "We were contacted by various teams, but when JBX made an offer, we felt it was the perfect option."

She has always liked this team: "They are very cool: bright car design, loud music, fun... I like their style."

About Jenson Button, Christine says: "He is very nice, funny and easy to talk to. We always talked and laughed a lot at competitions. He supported me with a message when he found out about my move to the team. Unfortunately, he couldn't come to Saudi Arabia because he was competing in Japan."

Christine already has experience in Extreme E, but Extreme H is something new for her: "They say there are many changes in the suspension, and the car is about 500 kg heavier. So we will have to work hard in training. Another feature is that the driver sits in the middle, like in a single-seater car. I think that will be the strangest thing at first."

She believes that her previous experience will help her adapt faster: "I have already driven such a car and I know what to expect. Of course, it takes time to pick up the pace, especially in a championship where there is little training. Here you have to give your all right away."

Christine says that the team's goal is gradual development: "In Extreme E, we didn't aim to win the championship right away. But, of course, you always want to do your best and achieve good results. In Extreme H, we all start from scratch, so we will give it our all. This is a young team, and I will be interested in growing with it."

For Christine, this is a return to competition: "I missed these cars. Formula 1 took up a lot of my time this season. This will be a challenge for me, but I am ready to work hard. I am glad to be back in this championship and meet again with the people I have already competed with."

She recalls Dakar: "I have a lot of memories of this race. I dream of going back there and performing much better, going to win. This requires a good budget so that you don't suffer every day without spare parts and help."

Working at DAZN gives Christine a lot of experience: "I learn a lot, and it has changed my life. I have always liked communicating with people, but speaking in front of the camera is not that easy. Fortunately, I have a great team. We spend so much time together that we have become a second family."

Christine believes that her experience as a driver helps her in her work as a commentator: "I understand the feelings of Formula 1 drivers well at certain moments. For example, when someone comes out after a failed qualification, I know what he is going through. This helps me ask the right questions. I like to show people what is happening inside the car."

Christine feels much more confident now than at the beginning of her commentary career: "At first I was very nervous and said everything I thought. Sometimes it was problematic. But now I know what to do, where to go, how to look for information."

When asked about her favorite in Formula 1, Christine answers: "It is clear that McLaren will win, but I believe in Max Verstappen. He is one of the best drivers in the world. You should never underestimate him."

Christine hopes to return home to Tenerife more often: "I have many friends there, and we always try to meet. I hope there will be many projects so that I can stay on the island longer."

Christine was born in India, has Italian-Spanish citizenship and grew up in the Canary Islands. It was in Fuerteventura that she became interested in motorsport: "It all started with the fact that I liked cars, but I didn't know what rally was. One day I saw a yellow Toyota Corolla driving by and fell in love. From that moment on, I decided to learn more." Soon Christine assembled her own car, using a Golf chassis. Since then, she has not stopped, even with an engineering degree in England.