19/09/2013
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
Although he's yet to score a point in his debut season, or sign a new contract, Esteban Gutierrez remains confident he will remain in Formula One for 2014.
With the Mexican Grand Prix poised to make a return to the calendar next season there is now added incentive for Gutierrez, and potentially any team interested in his services.
"This would be something very special for us, for Checo and myself," said the youngster of the chance to race in front of a home crowd. "I think they are in the final stages, I'm not fully aware of it but this would be a really special one."
Backed by Telmex, the organisation headed by Carlos Slim, Gutierrez brings valuable sponsorship dollars; if Sauber doesn't want him there is a good chance someone else does. With new Russian investment there is no certainty that the Mexican will be retained by Sauber, yet despite this Gutierrez believes he has proven himself to the team.
"At the end of the day money is not related to performance, driver performance at least, so my focus is to perform well as a driver," he said. "The team knows my development from two years ago already. We've been close together and this is not a one-year plan. We obviously look towards the future."
The Mexican joined Sauber off the back of one of its best seasons on record in 2012. By contrast it has struggled throughout the current campaign, fifth place for Nico Hulkenberg in Monza remains the stand out while Gutierrez's best remains an eleventh place in Barcelona.
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