- Ferrari
Gutierrez joins Ferrari as test and reserve driver
Former Sauber driver Esteban Gutierrez has joined Ferrari as the team's test and reserve driver.
Gutierrez was dropped by Sauber along with 2014 team-mate Adrian Sutil in favour of Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr, a decision the team admitted was down to "financial considerations". He has been picked up by Ferrari, where he will complement Kimi Raikkonen and new signing Sebastian Vettel.
Gutierrez admits he cannot wait to get started at a team steeped in so much history.
"It is an honour to become part of the Scuderia Ferrari family, a team with such an exceptional history," Gutierrez said. "It is for me the beginning of a new path for my future and I'm going to do my utmost to contribute to the achievement of the targets set by the Scuderia.
"I want to thank everybody for their belief in my potential; this will bring a great opportunity for me to develop further and get to the top in the near future. With all my passion and dedication, I'm now looking forward to the start of this new venture."
New Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says Gutierrez, 23, can offer plenty to Ferrari in the test and reserve role with two seasons under his belt.
"We are pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to Esteban who, although young, has plenty of experience relating to the new generation of Formula One cars," Arrivabene said. "I am sure that, with his experience, he will make an important contribution to the development work of the team in the simulator. Welcoming Esteban also means opening the gates of Ferrari to a driver from Mexico, a country where the Scuderia still has a lot of fans, just as was the case 50 years ago in the days of the Rodriguez brothers."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
