Esteban Gutierrez

Esteban Gutiérrez, born 5 August 1991 in Monterrey, Nuevo León, is a name etched in Mexico’s motorsport history not just for his on-track efforts, but also for his role behind the scenes in one of Formula One’s greatest teams. His Formula One career may have lasted from 2013 to 2016, but Gutiérrez’s journey—spanning world championships in junior categories, test roles at Ferrari and Mercedes, and a growing presence in business and esports—shows the many paths a modern F1 career can take.

Nationality	Mexican
Born	Esteban Manuel Gutiérrez Gutiérrez 5 August 1991 Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

Gutiérrez rocketed onto the European motorsport scene in 2008, winning the Formula BMW Europe title at just 17 years old, making him the youngest Mexican driver to win an international championship at the time. Two years later, he became the inaugural GP3 Series champion with ART Grand Prix (later Lotus GP), and followed that with a strong run in GP2, where he became the first GP3 graduate to finish in the top three of GP2, securing third overall in the 2012 season. These performances caught the attention of Formula One teams—particularly Sauber, which had already given him a test in 2009.

The Sauber Years: 2013–2014

Gutiérrez officially joined the Sauber F1 Team in 2013, partnering Nico Hülkenberg. His debut season was one of learning curves and flashes of speed. In Malaysia, he reached Q2 and finished just outside the points, while in Spain, he set the fastest lap of the race, becoming the second-youngest driver at the time in F1 history to do so, behind only Nico Rosberg.

His breakthrough came at the 2013 Japanese Grand Prix, where he climbed from 14th on the grid to finish seventh, scoring his first—and ultimately only—F1 points. He held off a late charge from Rosberg, showing calm under pressure and precision in defence. It was a career highlight and a rare moment of celebration during a challenging season for the team.

Despite some promising performances, Gutiérrez’s second year in 2014 was hampered by an uncompetitive Sauber chassis, and he failed to score any points. At the end of the season, he lost his race seat.

A Year in Red: Ferrari Test and Reserve Driver (2015)

In 2015, Gutiérrez joined Scuderia Ferrari as a test and reserve driver, stepping into a role previously held by the late Jules Bianchi. Although he didn’t race, the year allowed him to work closely with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen, absorbing insights from one of F1’s most legendary teams and preparing for a return to racing.

Haas F1 Team (2016): The Struggles of a Start-Up

Gutiérrez returned to the grid in 2016, this time with Haas F1 Team, Ferrari’s new customer outfit, alongside Romain Grosjean. While Grosjean scored strong points early in the season, Gutiérrez’s side of the garage was plagued with bad luck and near-misses. Despite multiple 11th-place finishes—just outside the points—in Monaco, Austria, Germany, and Singapore, he was never quite able to break into the top ten.

The performance gap between the two teammates and a crowded driver market led to Gutiérrez being replaced for 2017. He confirmed his departure from Haas via social media after the 2016 season.

Behind the Scenes with Mercedes

After Haas, Gutiérrez moved into a development and simulator driver role with Mercedes in 2018, supporting their championship-winning efforts from behind the scenes. His work focused on car setup simulations and race preparation for Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, and later George Russell.

In 2020, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Gutiérrez represented Mercedes in virtual Grand Prix esports races, expanding his role in the team’s digital space.

In 2024, Gutiérrez was named a Formula One brand ambassador for Mercedes, and also launched EDASI Drive, an official Formula One merchandise distributor for Latin America—a pioneering effort in a growing global market.

He has also had stints in Formula E and IndyCar.

While Sergio Pérez may be the most visible face of Mexican Formula One, Esteban Gutiérrez was a vital part of F1’s expansion into the Americas and a role model for young Latin American drivers.