Gutierrez Signed By Sauber

Posted on February 26th, 2010 by Stephen Rhodes in Formula 1 - News/Rumors

BMW Sauber has signed a deal with 18-year-old Esteban Gutierrez. The Mexican impressed the team at the F1 young driver test in Jerez in December and has been ‘taken under the wing’ of the Swiss outfit.

He won’t get a chance to test until this year’s corresponding young driver sessions, but Sauber will back his GP3 campaign and he will spend time with the team on Grand Prix weekends.

In the past Sauber has given a first chance to the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa, Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel.

“We view this link-up as a kind of sponsorship arrangement,” said Peter Sauber. “Nowadays you can only give young drivers a very limited amount of help in gaining a foothold in Formula One. With the limited number of testing opportunities, it is important for the teams to have the race drivers in the cars during those sessions. However, the world of Formula One is so complex that you can learn a great deal just by watching and listening to what’s going on. That’s the opportunity we’re giving Esteban. And we will also help him to get himself in F1-trim physically.”

Gutièrrez said: “I felt very comfortable at the young driver test at Jerez in December and enjoyed every second, but I also saw that I still have a lot to learn before I’m ready to be a good Formula One driver. Experience behind the wheel is, of course, the most important thing, but I’m under no illusions. I’m happy that the BMW Sauber F1 Team has shown so much confidence in me by giving me the chance to look behind the scenes and learn about the sport. And at the same time, I will be training hard with an instructor, which will definitely help me achieve my goals in the GP3 series.”