17-11-2013.- After a difficult start to the race, Mexican driver Esteban Gutiérrez gained back seven places to eventually finish 13th in the United States Grand Prix.
Sauber's driver started from 20th when a penalty received after qualifying saw him drop 10 places on the grid, affecting the Mexican's quest for points.
“It was strategy, in the end it did not make much difference to the alternative of going for just one stop. It was a race where I acquired a lot of experience, I had to fight all day and it was a great challenge”.
“What affected us more was yesterday's penalty because we have the pace and had it through the entire race”, explained Esteban.
Gutiérrez leaves with the new expertise acquired during the weekend, where he had an outstanding performance in practice and even in qualifying.
“This is what I have been working for, my experience, my confidence, that is how I won championships before; I know how to win a championship, this experience in Formula One is something huge, but I think we've lived through it in a way that made me evolve as a person and as a driver, and I know good things are yet to come.
“We have to take the experience and move on, take the bad an learn from it, knowing we've had our best Friday of the season, also a great Saturday even though we missed by a little bit in Q3 with a lap that for me was not the best”, he said.
This time, Esteban had a car that responded in terms of top speed, but having to start from behind affected the weekend for the driver fromMonterrey, Nuevo León.
“We showed our speed in the race; we had to respect the stewards decision, it was a hard penalty but it is their call and when you are a rookie they want you to really learn what you can and can't do and they tend to be more strict but in time I have to earn their respect.
“My intention was to leave room for Pastor (Maldonado) but it looked like something totally different”, he remarked.
Sebastian Vettel leaded Mark Webber in Red Bull's 1-3, while Lotus' Romain Grosjean finshed 2nd.
