The ‘other’ Mexican F1 driver who is aiding Mercedes’ empire-building goals

Some drivers step back entirely from motor racing when they hang up their helmets – but others, like Esteban Gutierrez, have ambitions to move from the hot seat to the c-suite. STUART CODLING gets down to business with the man blazing a trail for Mercedes in Latin America

Updated Jul 10, 2021, 3:38 PM

Racing drivers softening their transition from the cockpit to civilian life by acting as ‘brand ambassadors’ is nothing new. When injury forced Sir Stirling Moss to retire before his time, he very quickly discovered that simply being Stirling Moss was supremely valuable.

Likewise, Sir Jackie Stewart ensured Ford Motor Company products flew off the forecourts even before he stepped out of his Tyrrell cockpit for the last time in 1973. Until the pandemic put the brakes on corporate hospitality, he was still energetically entertaining guests of a certain watch company, race in, race out, in modern times – indeed, when GP Racing quipped how ironic it was that being a Rolex ambassador seemed to leave him with no time on his hands, he guffawed and said, “Thanks! I’ll use that…”