Esteban Gutierrez says his Yas Marina test crash is all part of learning F1
Esteban Gutierrez believes that his crash during the closing minutes of the Yas Marina young driver test is part of his learning experience in F1
The Mexican, who impressed the Sauber team throughout his two days of running, spun at Turn 3 while attempting to improve his laptime on supersoft tyres.
The car sustained minor damage to a wheel rim after a relatively light impact, and Gutierrez has put the cause down to confusion with the DRS system.
"It's part of racing," said Gutierrez. "Throughout the two days it was important to have a margin to complete the test programme, but then the opportunity came up at the end to do a quick lap.
"I've driven the F1 car four times before and not crashed, so there's always a first time. To know the limit, you have to. It was because of a mistake with the DRS."
Despite the accident, Gutierrez ended the day sixth fastest, 0.5s behind Force India driver Max Chilton.
He believes that he is getting more comfortable in F1 machinery with every test and is now at the point where it is about making tiny improvements.
"I was pushing myself, looking at the data and trying to do the things that I wanted to apply," he said. "It's not easy when you speak about little things, but it's just about fine tuning my driving style to adapt to F1.
"Right now, I know that I can improve more. Looking at these two days as a whole, corner by corner, step by step, I have a good idea of what I need to work on for the future."
He highlighted achieving greater stability with the car over the kerbs as one area where he could improve.
But he was cautious not to compare his pace both to others driving during the test and to Sauber's regular drivers because of the differences in programme.
"You cannot compare the laptime," he said. "You have different engine settings, tyre compounds and fuel loads.
"But definitely, the stability on the kerbs is something that I can improve; to be able to get through in a more stable way. This is the main point."
Alexander Rossi satisfied with Lotus test at Yas Marina
Kevin Ceccon says he is 'one step closer to F1' after Toro Rosso test
Why physical fitness is an understimated challenge for IndyCar rookies
The lack of in-car physical fitness is an “underestimated” hurdle for an IndyCar Series rookie, according to Dale Coyne Racing's Indy Lights graduate Sting Ray Robb.
Bubba Wallace ‘got dumped’ by Austin Dillon in NASCAR Clash
Bubba Wallace says Austin Dillon “dumped” him out of second place in NASCAR’s chaotic Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday night.
Albon warns Williams has "long road ahead" to recover in F1
Alex Albon admits that his Williams Formula 1 team has a “long road ahead” as it tries to progress up the field this year.
Toyota won’t put more pressure on Katsuta at WRC Rally Sweden
Toyota World Rally Championship boss Jari-Matti Latvala says the team won’t "put more pressure" on Takamoto Katsuta to deliver in his first drive for the factory team this weekend.
The pioneering F1 car that preceded Lotus’s terminal decline
In the hands of Ayrton Senna the actively suspended 99T would be the last F1 race-winning Lotus but, as STUART CODLING reveals, it was a complicated machine that caused more problems than it solved
How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
Formula 1’s transformation into a global sport meant the gradual extinction for a small team determined to stay true to its low-budget roots. But Tyrrell would eventually be reborn as a world-beating outfit again, explains MAURICE HAMILTON, albeit in different colours…
Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver
Many doubted Lewis Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes for the 2013 Formula 1 season. But the journey he’s been on since has taken the Briton to new heights - and to a further six world championship titles
Why new look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era
OPINION: With teams outside the top three having struggled in Formula 1 in recent seasons, the rules changes introduced in 2022 should have more of an impact this season. How well Haas does, as the poster child for the kind of team that F1 wanted to be able to challenge at the front, is crucial
The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
OPINION: Although the central building blocks for Mercedes’ recent, long-lasting Formula 1 success were installed before he joined the team, Toto Wolff has been instrumental in ensuring it maximised its finally-realised potential after years of underachievement. The 10-year anniversary of Wolff joining Mercedes marks the perfect time to assess his work
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
How do the best races of F1 2022 stack up to 2021?
OPINION: A system to score all the grands prix from the past two seasons produces some interesting results and sets a standard that 2023 should surely exceed
Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?
Who was the fastest driver in 2022? Everyone has an opinion, but what does the stopwatch say? Obviously, differing car performance has an effect on ultimate laptime – but it’s the relative speed of each car/driver package that’s fascinating and enlightening says ALEX KALINAUCKAS
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.