Esteban Gutierrez says he and his backers are “strongly considering” options outside Haas F1 Team for the 2017 season, with the Mexican adding that he wants his plans settled “within the next two weeks”.
Making his return to a full-time role this year, Gutierrez has experienced a somewhat frustrating campaign amid reliability issues, poor luck, but also missed opportunities.
The 25-year-old enters this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix with no score to his name, while team-mate Romain Grosjean has amassed 29 points.
“Gene [Haas] has been very keen in the media that he wants to wait a few races [before announcing the 2017 line-up],” Gutierrez told reporters during Thursday’s FIA press conference.
“Fortunately we have other options which we are now considering strongly and I think it will be important to close something soon, because we can't risk to just wait a few more races until the end of the season and risk falling between two chairs. So we are doing our best and things are looking very good for next season.”
Gutierrez has often said he is confident of being in F1 next year. But as time starts to run out, the former Ferrari test driver admits he will not wait for Haas to make its decision much longer.
“That deadline should be within the next two weeks,” Gutierrez said on the sort of timeframe he was looking at.
With a seat recently opening up at Force India alongside compatriot Sergio Perez, who was also in attendance at the FIA presser, Gutierrez was asked on the prospect of having an all-Mexican pairing at the Silverstone-based outfit.
“Yeah, why not, it would be fantastic…”, he smiled in response.
Chris Medland's 2016 Mexican Grand Prix preview
Scene at the United States Grand Prix
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