Ferrari move was huge risk - Gutierrez

Esteban Gutierrez believes that accepting to join Ferrari as its reserve driver in 2015 after he lost his race seat at Sauber was a huge risk to his career.

The Mexican endured a difficult apprentice during his two years with the Hinwill-based outfit, achieving his best result with a 7th place finish in Japan in his maiden F1 year.

Locked out of the Swiss team's future at the end of 2014 and with no other opportunities on the horizon, Gutierrez stepped out of the spotlight to work behind the scenes as Ferrari's test and reserve driver.

The decision, while risky at the time, has paid off however with the 24-year-old back in the racing seat with the new Ferrari-powered Haas F1 Team.

"I took the biggest risk of my life probably," Gutierrez told Autosport.

"But in life sometimes you need to take those risks and never be afraid. And I was never afraid. I was aware of the risk I was taking, but also the fact I had the opportunity.

"It was also about Ferrari taking me to their team. I then set very clear targets in the short term, looking at the necessary steps in order for me to achieve another drive the following year.

"Obviously I looked towards Haas, and my relationship with Ferrari. Hopefully that will bring further opportunities to get to the top of Formula 1 in the future."

In hindsight, Gutierrez's believes his time at Maranello, watching at work the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, was well spent.

"Something I really enjoy, and I have always enjoyed during my whole career, is to observe and to learn the good things from other people.

"Honestly, the years I've learnt the most, or let's say I've had the most important lessons, have been the last three years.

"You connect both things [struggling at Sauber and learning with Ferrari] and then it makes you grow exponentially in many ways, so I feel very prepared and very hungry to get back racing."

Scene at the Pirelli wet tyre test