Gutierrez: Leaving Sauber Opened Door to Ferrari and Haas F1 Roles
Esteban Gutierrez says his departure from Sauber in 2014 set him on a path to Ferrari and a 2016 Formula One race seat with Haas.
Esteban Gutierrez has described his exit from Sauber at the end of 2014 as the turning point that led to his return to a Formula One race seat with Haas for 2016. The Mexican driver, who lost his Sauber drive after two seasons, joined Ferrari as a reserve driver for 2015, a move he now calls the best decision of his career.
Gutierrez’s year on the sidelines at Ferrari was not easy, but he says it was part of a longer-term strategy. The move placed him inside the Ferrari system at a time when the American Haas team was preparing to enter Formula One, using Ferrari power units and technical support. Gutierrez’s Ferrari connection positioned him as a natural candidate for the new team's first driver line-up.
The decision to step away from a race seat was a risk. Gutierrez acknowledged that patience was required during his time as a reserve, but the prospect of joining Haas, already established as a strong team in American motorsport, was a key factor. Haas’s technical partnership with Ferrari gave Gutierrez a clear route back onto the Formula One grid.
Ferrari and Haas: A Strategic Move
Gutierrez’s move reflects the growing influence of technical alliances in Formula One. Haas’s entry was built on a close relationship with Ferrari, allowing the American team to benefit from Maranello’s engines and expertise. For Gutierrez, already in the Ferrari fold, this made him an obvious choice as Haas looked for drivers with experience and strong manufacturer ties.
The Mexican’s backers were also instrumental in securing the Ferrari reserve role, which proved to be a stepping stone rather than a step back. With Haas confirming its partnership with Ferrari and its intent to compete seriously in Formula One, Gutierrez’s calculated risk paid off.
