Esteban Gutierrez will enhance his role with Mercedes’ Formula 1 team this year after being officially appointed as its simulator and development driver.
Gutierrez raced for Sauber in Formula 1 through 2013 and 2014, scoring points only once, and spent 2015 on the sidelines as Ferrari’s test and reserve driver.
Gutierrez’s Ferrari affiliation facilitated his return to the grid with the new-for-2016 Haas team but he failed to score a point and was dropped at the end of the season.
The Mexican competed in a handful of IndyCar and Formula E events but was unable to secure full-time programmes in either championships.
Gutierrez spent time in Mercedes’ simulator through 2018, and completed a Formula 1 demonstration run as part of Silverstone’s 70th anniversary celebrations at the British Grand Prix.
For 2019 Gutierrez has officially taken up the position of Simulator and Development Driver, assisting Mercedes in the progress of its W10.
Fellow ex-F1 racer Esteban Ocon holds the role Reserve Driver, having missed out on a 2019 race seat as part of last year’s driver merry-go-round.
Ocon and Gutierrez will act as back-up to racers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.
