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F1 Canada: Reserve Esteban Gutierrez unhappy to miss Sauber debut

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Esteban Gutierrez sounded upset on Friday after missing the opportunity to make his formula one race debut.

The Mexican teen was signed by Sauber to be the Swiss team's official test and reserve driver at all races in 2011.

But the reigning GP3 champion, who now races in the F1 support category GP2, was not in Canada on Friday when his countryman Sergio Perez had to withdraw from the event due to illness.

Instead, Sauber turned to in its 2010 driver Pedro de la Rosa after hurried negotiations with McLaren, who now employ the veteran Spaniard as its reserve driver.

Esteban Gutierrez at the wheel of the Sauber C29 in November at Abu Dhabi - Photo WRi2


Despite Perez's hospitalisation, concussion and bruised thigh in Monaco, and the fact FIA doctors only cleared him to race on Thursday, Sauber was caught so unprepared that de la Rosa was wearing McLaren overalls when he took to the C30 in afternoon practice at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

And Esteban Gutierrez, apparently in his native Mexico, wrote on Twitter that Sauber displayed a "lack of transparency" in informing its official reserve of the situation.

"I learned from Twitter," he said on the social networking website.

"It's a shame to hear about Montreal, I hope 'Checo' (Perez) recovers soon. I never received any instructions to prevent this situation. I was ready," added Gutierrez in Spanish.



Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 8 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada