Esteban Gutierrez Confirmed for Haas F1 Race Seat in 2016
Esteban Gutierrez will join Romain Grosjean at the new Haas F1 Team for its debut 2016 season, completing the American squad’s driver line-up.
Esteban Gutierrez has confirmed he will race for Haas F1 Team in the 2016 Formula One season, finalising the American squad’s debut driver pairing alongside Romain Grosjean. The announcement, made at a sponsor event in Mexico City ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, brings an end to weeks of speculation about the 24-year-old’s future after his year as Ferrari’s reserve driver. Haas, entering F1 as a new constructor in 2016, had already signed Grosjean in September.
Gutierrez Secures Haas Race Seat for 2016
Gutierrez’s appointment was widely anticipated due to his links with Ferrari, which supplies Haas with power units and technical support. The official team announcement is scheduled for Friday in Mexico City, with Haas and Gutierrez’s sponsors Claro and Telmex streaming the event online.
Ferrari Connections and Haas Line-up
Gutierrez spent 2015 as Ferrari’s reserve driver after two seasons racing for Sauber. His move to Haas follows Ferrari’s close technical partnership with the new team, influencing both the car’s development and the choice of drivers. Gutierrez has stated he intends to apply the experience gained at Maranello to his new role with Haas.
Haas team principal Gene Haas had previously considered several candidates for the seat. The final decision gives the team a line-up with both youth and experience for its first F1 campaign.
| Driver | Previous Team/Role |
|---|---|
| Esteban Gutierrez | Ferrari reserve / ex-Sauber |
| Jean-Eric Vergne | Former Toro Rosso driver |
| Nico Hülkenberg | Force India driver |
What Gutierrez Brings to Haas
- Debuted in F1 with Sauber in 2013, scoring points in Japan
- Accumulated experience as Ferrari reserve driver in 2015
- Worked closely with Ferrari engineers and technical staff
- Brings Mexican sponsorship and commercial ties, boosting Haas’s profile in the Americas
Gutierrez’s Mexican heritage and sponsorship connections are expected to help Haas attract attention and commercial support, particularly in the Americas. His technical experience from Ferrari may also benefit Haas as it embarks on its first season in Formula One.
