F1 meets FE again
Ex-Haas Formula 1 driver Esteban Gutierrez will take part in ‘select races’ in the FIA Formula E championship in 2017, including his home race in Mexico City, it has been confirmed today.
The Mexican is said to be analysing his options for a full-time seat in the fourth series of the electric championship, after losing his Formula 1 seat to Kevin Magnussen. However, Formula E confirmed today via their official Twitter account (@FIAformulaE) that Gutierrez will race in April’s Mexico ePrix, and have yet to rule out his participation in the Buenos Aires ePrix next month.
The announcement was made in a press conference today in Mexico City, attended by Gutierrez, Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag, and Miguel Angel Mancera Espinosa, the mayor of Mexico City.
“Exciting future”
“I’ll do the Mexico race, and probably others in preparation for the 2018 season,” said Gutierrez. “It’s an exciting future for my career. I feel very proud of being a part of this new tendency of electric cars.”
Which team Gutierrez will race for remains unclear, but Motorsport.com claims that one option will see the Mexican join Faraday Future Dragon Racing, filling in for Loic Duval, who misses the Paris and Brussels ePrix’s due to a date clash with the Lausitzring and Norisring DTM rounds. Whether this would lead to Gutierrez replacing Duval permanently, for the fourth season of the Formula E championship, remains to be seen.
With this move, Gutierrez becomes the eighth ex-F1 driver to participate in Formula E, which can only be seen as a boost for the all-electric championship, and for the Mexican race, which takes place on April 1.
