• Sauber news

Kaltenborn backs Gutierrez to improve

ESPN Staff
August 17, 2013 « McLaren 'not contenders' at Spa | Silverstone sold by BRDC - report »
Esteban Gutierrez has yet to score a point this season © Sutton Images
Enlarge

Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn believes Esteban Gutierrez's performances will improve after the mid-season break.

Gutierrez has struggled relative to team-mate Nico Hulkenberg so far during his debut season in Formula One and has yet to score a point. With the Russian-backed Sergey Sirotkin set for a race seat in 2014 there has been some uncertainty over Gutierrez's future, but Kaltenborn told ESPN she expects to see more from him in the second half of this season.

"I'm happy with the job," Kaltenborn said. "For Esteban it has been a very tough season, not only to step in to Formula One but he's had bad luck, he's had challenging situations and he has to cope with them. I think it's good he has this break now to reassess himself, to let everything settle down with him and see what was good, what was bad and learn from that; which he definitely will because he's a smart guy."

Kaltenborn added that Gutierrez's chances of scoring points this season would not be hampered by the team stopping development on its 2013 car early.

"We will continue to focus on implementing the development - the performance development - that we still want to do on this car and of course are already focusing on next year as well."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close