Sauber backs Formula 1 rookie Esteban Gutierrez to score points
Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn is sure Esteban Gutierrez is capable of delivering point-scoring finishes for the Swiss squad.
Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn is sure Esteban Gutierrez is capable of delivering point-scoring finishes for the Swiss squad.
The Mexican, the youngest driver on the grid at 22, is yet to finish in the points and has an 11th-place finish as his best result so far in his rookie season.
Team-mate Nico Hulkenberg has finished in the points four times and has outqualified Gutierrez in all races.
Kaltenborn acknowledges that Sauber's uncompetitiveness has made Gutierrez's life difficult, but she believes he has the potential to produce better performances.
"Yes, I am sure about that," said Kaltenborn when asked if Gutierrez can score. "It has been a very tough season.
"The challenge to come into Formula 1, and get used to this environment, is a big step in itself.
"Then of course if the car is not as competitive as we expected it to be, if you simply have bad luck then it is very tough on the driver.
"And that's where we need to make sure he keeps his motivation high and try to support him finding consistency.
"We have seen even on Fridays that he is there in his moments, and we need to get more of that out of him."
Kaltenborn reckons the summer break will be important to Gutierrez to refocus and come back a stronger driver when action resumes at the Belgian Grand Prix.
"There has been so much going on - especially with the rumours around the team, the situation, not being able to do everything we wanted to implement - and it does take a toll on the drivers, especially when you are new in Formula 1," she said.
"It's good he can reflect on all this, have this time to reassess his position, what he has done right and what hasn't gone so well, and I am sure he will come back stronger."
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh feels 2012 car 'overperformed'
Lotus F1 team hits out at reports of financial trouble
The five factors behind Sainz winning a British GP he’d twice lost
Formula 1 has a newest race winner, in a grand prix the victor appeared to have lost twice, only to charge back to headline a sensational and dramatic British Grand Prix. From a massive start crash to a late sprint finish, here’s how five factors saw Carlos Sainz take his maiden grand prix win
Why there was no case to answer in Aston’s latest F1 copycat saga
The appearance of a revised Aston Martin in Spain caused controversy but PAT SYMONDS explains why the FIA investigation found the Silverstone team had no case to answer
Why it's Red Bull that really leads a three-way fight so far at Silverstone
After a slow start to Friday at Silverstone, all the Formula 1 teams had to effectively cram in a day’s worth of practice into one hour. But there was still plenty to learn and while Ferrari topped the times, a three-way battle is brewing ahead of the British Grand Prix
Why the future is bright for the British GP
It wasn’t so long ago the situation looked bleak at Silverstone with the future of the British Grand Prix under threat. But a transformation has seen it restored to one of the most important races on the Formula 1 calendar, with bigger and better to come
Could mixed fortunes for F1's leading Brits turn around at Silverstone?
For the first time in many years, none of the local racers starts among the favourites for the British Grand Prix. But George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris could have reasons for optimism
Verstappen exclusive: Why F1’s champion isn’t fazed by Silverstone return
Max Verstappen is the world’s number one racing driver… and he’s determined to keep it that way. Speaking exclusively to GP Racing's OLEG KARPOV, the Red Bull driver explains why he’s relishing the 2022 championship battle with Charles Leclerc – and why he’s not worried about returning to Silverstone, the scene of the biggest accident of his career last year
Why Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar can help its F1 team
On Tuesday, Red Bull laid out its plans to develop and build a new hypercar - the RB17 - penned by Adrian Newey. As the project itself sates Newey as a creative outlet, it also offers Red Bull's Formula 1 team a number of new and exciting avenues to pursue
What to expect from Mercedes as F1 returns to Silverstone
OPINION: The British Grand Prix is a home event for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, with their Mercedes team based just a few miles away too. But there’s another reason why the Silver Arrows squad is eager to arrive at Silverstone this weekend, which may help it fix its remaining problems with its 2022 Formula 1 challenger