F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Mercedes gives Gutierrez Formula E reserve role

Former F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez will serve as Mercedes' reserve and development driver in Formula E this season, the Mexican working alongside double DTM champion Gary Paffett.

Gutierrez, who competed in F1 with Sauber and Haas, raced in FE for Techeetah during the series' 2016-17 season and tested Mercedes electric Silver Arrow in Majorca last summer.

The German outfit's main lineup for the 2019-20 season which kicks off in Saudi Arabia next week includes Stoffel Vandoorne and 2019 F2 champion Nyck de Vries.

Mercedes said that Gutierrez and Paffett will alternate in their reserve role at FE events, with the Mexican in attendance at the opening round in Riyadh.

"I'm very much looking forward to continuing my journey with the Mercedes family by joining Formula E as a reserve and development Driver," said Gutierrez, who conducted simulator work in Brackley for the Mercedes F1 team.

"I would like to thank the team for giving me the chance to join them as they embark on this new and exciting chapter."

After getting acquainted with FE last year through its support for the HWA RaceLab team, Mercedes tackles the all-electric series as a works outfit for the very first time.

©Mercedes

"We will face a lot of challenges in our first season in Formula E, so I'm really pleased we've been able to acquire the services of Esteban, another experienced driver," said Mercedes FE team boss Ian James.

"He did an excellent job during testing in Majorca, fitting in perfectly with the team.

"He has a lot of experience to offer from racing in a number of different series - Formula 1, Formula E and IndyCar - and has also gained a lot of know-how in the simulator about how to develop and setup a car.

"We are certain that he will be of enormous help with the tasks we face in our debut season in his joint role as reserve and development driver with Gary."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Bahrain GP: Friday's action in pictures

McLaren hit the ground running at warp speed in Bahrain on Friday, leaving its rivals…

9 hours ago

Russell accepts McLaren pace, but eyes ‘next best’ for Mercedes

George Russell believes Mercedes are in the hunt for “the next best” result behind McLaren…

11 hours ago

Leclerc: McLaren ‘on another planet’ but Ferrari upgrades working

Charles Leclerc has admitted to feeling frustrated by McLaren's blistering pace in Friday’s practice sessions…

12 hours ago

Verstappen rues Red Bull's ‘massive’ gap to McLaren in Bahrain

Max Verstappen has sounded the alarm for Red Bull after a bruising opening day at…

12 hours ago

Stella: Talk of McLaren dominance ‘out of place’

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has moved to temper rising expectations around his team’s early…

13 hours ago

Bahrain GP: Piastri leads Mclaren 1-2 in second practice

McLaren laid down an early marker at the Bahrain Grand Prix as Oscar Piastri led…

14 hours ago