Esteban Gutierrez made his return to Formula 1, with Haas F1 Team, at the season opening Australian Grand Prix, and was involved in a very scary moment when he was collided into by Fernando Alonso. The Mexican reflects on the race in Melbourne and looks ahead to the Bahrain weekend.
Haas F1 Team has its first grand prix under its belt. How did it go and what can you take from Australia and apply to Bahrain?
Esteban Gutierrez: “As a whole experience it was a positive weekend, apart from the unfortunate incident we had during the race. We did a very good job as a team. Obviously, scoring points leaves a lot of confidence for the whole team, but still we have plenty of work to do. I think, in general, we can go to Bahrain making our next step forward as a team. In both organization and communication there has not been much time for the team to breath because of the hard work in building the car and testing in Barcelona and then the first grand prix. Hopefully, we can consolidate things and get everything done and try to make the best of our potential.”
Esteban Gutierrez: “As a whole experience it was a positive weekend, apart from the unfortunate incident we had during the race. We did a very good job as a team. Obviously, scoring points leaves a lot of confidence for the whole team, but still we have plenty of work to do. I think, in general, we can go to Bahrain making our next step forward as a team. In both organization and communication there has not been much time for the team to breath because of the hard work in building the car and testing in Barcelona and then the first grand prix. Hopefully, we can consolidate things and get everything done and try to make the best of our potential.”
Haas F1 Team seems to handle adversity extremely well – be it with technical issues during the second week of testing at Barcelona and when your teammate endured a pit lane collision in practice Saturday at Australia. From your perspective, how well is this new group of personnel working together?
EG: “We can be very proud of what we have achieved and how we have reacted, considering that we are a new team, but still we have plenty of work to do. Those things will come with experience, and it’s something we’re improving on each time we’re on the track.”
EG: “We can be very proud of what we have achieved and how we have reacted, considering that we are a new team, but still we have plenty of work to do. Those things will come with experience, and it’s something we’re improving on each time we’re on the track.”
With wet weather Friday at Australia, it compromised the team’s ability to work on the car’s setup for the race. The weather in Bahrain is usually pretty consistent, and that means consistently dry. How helpful will a full weekend of consistent weather be for you and the team?
EG: “It will be very positive because we can finally work and experiment a little bit with the car and its setup. Unfortunately, we have not been able to do that. It’s quite impressive that even though we have not been able to experiment a lot, we have a very good base line. So, I’m really looking forward to get to know more of the car to experiment more and really work on the best direction for our setup. Bahrain will help us a lot to get more consistent running, more laps in practice and hopefully a smooth weekend.”
EG: “It will be very positive because we can finally work and experiment a little bit with the car and its setup. Unfortunately, we have not been able to do that. It’s quite impressive that even though we have not been able to experiment a lot, we have a very good base line. So, I’m really looking forward to get to know more of the car to experiment more and really work on the best direction for our setup. Bahrain will help us a lot to get more consistent running, more laps in practice and hopefully a smooth weekend.”
How did the addition of a third tire option impact your strategy for Australia, and what impact do you think it will have on your tire strategy for Bahrain?
EG: “We keep experimenting a lot trying to get to know the tire compounds and how they act in different circumstances. It has made the races and the weekend interesting because there is more strategy from each team to choose its own tires that fit better for them.”
EG: “We keep experimenting a lot trying to get to know the tire compounds and how they act in different circumstances. It has made the races and the weekend interesting because there is more strategy from each team to choose its own tires that fit better for them.”
From testing in Barcelona to your home in Mexico to racing in Australia, and then back home before going to Bahrain, what do you do to physically and mentally combat the fatigue that comes with being in so many drastically different time zones in the span of a month?
EG: “The most important thing to do is to continue with a rhythm of training. Experience has helped me deal with jet lag, so it’s not really a problem. I try to arrange my schedule the best way possible so I minimize the amount of travel and the amount of places where I need to go. I just try to find the best balance and the best compromise for all my responsibilities.”
EG: “The most important thing to do is to continue with a rhythm of training. Experience has helped me deal with jet lag, so it’s not really a problem. I try to arrange my schedule the best way possible so I minimize the amount of travel and the amount of places where I need to go. I just try to find the best balance and the best compromise for all my responsibilities.”
Explain a lap around the Bahrain International Circuit.
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