Esteban Gutiérrez to make Formula E debut in Mexico City
126 days after getting out of the Haas car at the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, Mexican driver Esteban Gutiérrez will get back behind the wheel for a race, this time at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, in the Mexico City ePrix.
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The driver from Monterrey, who confirmed that he had offers to continue in the top category as a test driver, decided to leave the blank year behind in the American team and accepted the opportunity to take the wheel of Techeetah in Formula E.
The Mexican driver will be the eighth on the grid of the electric series with experience in the Grand Circus, along with the current leader of the series, Swiss driver Sébastien Buemi, Brazilians Lucas di Grassi and Nelson Piquet Jr., Belgian Jérome D'Ambrosio, Frenchmen Stéphane Sarrazin and Jean-Éric Vergne, and German Nick Heidfeld.
But completing the transition between categories will not be easy for Esteban, especially because he has not tested the car in competition, and he will have to do it when the series enters its fourth round in the third season.
"He is a very good driver, we all welcome him, but it will be complicated for him, because Formula E is not easier or harder than Formula One, it is different; the competition is just as strong, but he has a very good car, that's why I think he will be fine, although he has to adapt to new aspects such as energy, qualifying, the championship format, and everything else", said Brazilian Di Grassi, who competed in the top category with Virgin in 2010.
The Mexican will have Jean-Éric Vergne as his teammate, who spent three seasons with Toro Rosso in Formula One and is now in his third season in the electric series, the first with Techeetah.
"It's one of the reasons why I came to the team, because Jean-Éric followed the same path from Formula One, he has been quick in Formula E and is a good reference, I also believe that Techeetah has a good car, I have to enjoy the experience", said Esteban.
On the other hand, the Frenchman, who finished 16th in Mexico last year when he was with the Virgin Racing team, has five podium finishes in the series, including a second place in the most recent round in Argentina a month ago.
"It's good for the team and for him to start in Mexico, the team will do everything possible for him to achieve a positive result, he's a great driver, so having a standout performance in front of his people would be nice for everyone", he explained.
The Frenchman said he is here to guide Gutiérrez on the path he is embarking on:
"I'm here to answer any questions he has, to help him, we want to be good teammates and do everything for the team, win the constructors' title, and whatever I can do to lend a hand, I will."
BRAKES AND ENERGY
After testing in the simulator, talking with the rest of the grid, and having a small test on Reforma Avenue on Sunday, the Mexican driver is aware of the main problems he will face this afternoon at the Hermanos Rodríguez.
"The biggest challenge will be braking, as it is unpredictable, as I understand it, and conserving energy during the race, there is a lot of strategy, and things will be new to me, I hope to adapt quickly", he said.
Di Grassi, who has been successful in all three seasons of Formula E, with two second-place finishes in the drivers' championship and one third, also pointed out some issues that the Mexican will face on track.
"The biggest problem is adapting to the energy, in the race he has to go as fast as possible, but at the same time balance the use of the battery in order to finish it, that will be the most difficult thing for Esteban", he anticipated.
Vergne could be the example for the Mexican, as after running in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 23, 2014, in F1 with Toro Rosso, he started in pole position at the Uruguay ePrix on December 13 of the same year.
"In my first race where I jumped from Formula One to Formula E, I won pole position, so it went well for me", concluded Esteban's new teammate.