Gutierrez off to Formula E

[ajprice]

Esteban "I will be in Formula One next year" Gutierrez will not be in Formula One this year. He's off to Formula E, the team he'll be driving for hasn't been announced yet.

http://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/gutierrez...

The only free seats left were Mercedes and Manor, so it's looking more like Manor won't be on the grid as things stand.

[FourWheelDrift]

Sauber have an unconfirmed seat.

[anonymous-user]

I somehow think he'll still be out if his depth.....

[rubystone]

FourWheelDrift said:

Sauber have an unconfirmed seat.

Don't Ericsson's backers essentially own the team?

[Speed Badger]

Ericsson and Wehrlein for Sauber - just praying that they get rid of that tossy blue and yellow livery now.

Gutierrez was out of his depth in F1, he can obviously pedal a racing car, but not the right qualities for F1.

[Piginapoke]

A bit of a moaner, wasn't he

[radical78]

virgin / audi all the smart money is of to FE F1 will die with bernie

[rubystone]

radical78 said:

virgin / audi all the smart money is of to FE F1 will die with bernie

Formula E suits the messaging for the major manufacturers, especially those looking to repair their reputations...but F1 won't die. It might start to cut its cloth a bit more though.

Formula E will go the way WEC did - big spends chase off the smaller operations and the fans will vote with their feet in 2-3 years' time.

[Smollet]

REALIST123 said:

I somehow think he'll still be out if his depth.....

Never rated him. Only got the seat due to his backing. Calado out drove him when they were teammates and he's nowhere now in F1 terms.

[tommunster10]

Smollet said:

REALIST123 said:

I somehow think he'll still be out if his depth.....

Never rated him. Only got the seat due to his backing. Calado out drove him when they were teammates and he's nowhere now in F1 terms.

Yes that's unusual in F1...

[sparta6]

rubystone said:

Formula E suits the messaging for the major manufacturers, especially those looking to repair their reputations...but F1 won't die. It might start to cut its cloth a bit more though.

Formula E will go the way WEC did - big spends chase off the smaller operations and the fans will vote with their feet in 2-3 years' time.

^^this^^

TV audiences have been dismal, which is why ITV dropped it. I suppose all that silence induces a power nap for most. Would I ever pay money to buy a ticket ? Doubt it.

[ajprice]

He's now saying that he's in talks with a 'top team' in F1 about being a test driver. Probably in the hope of getting back to an F1 race seat. The important word there is hope

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/127769...

[tommunster10]

You know on old Top Gear when the boys used to take retro cars cross the wilderness.......well you know that bit where they were followed by a really really rubbish car and threatened with having to drive it if their's broke?
And if they broke down it would pop it's nose around the corner with dramatic effect....

Well I always imagine that the mid level F1 drivers have that but with a Formula E car...

Vergne considering how close he was to Ricciardo must in his dark days get pretty bent out of shape mentally.

[stinkspanner]

It must be like going back to ff1600, only not as much fun

[Hub]

I know drivers shouldn't really need personality to be on the grid, but in Gutierrez's case it might have helped a bit! Well, not that he ever showed too much talent in the driving side of things either!

[Rude-boy]

sparta6 said:

rubystone said:

Formula E suits the messaging for the major manufacturers, especially those looking to repair their reputations...but F1 won't die. It might start to cut its cloth a bit more though.

Formula E will go the way WEC did - big spends chase off the smaller operations and the fans will vote with their feet in 2-3 years' time.

^^this^^

TV audiences have been dismal, which is why ITV dropped it. I suppose all that silence induces a power nap for most. Would I ever pay money to buy a ticket ? Doubt it.

Small point.

ITV didn't drop FE.

[LeoSayer]

tommunster10 said:

You know on old Top Gear when the boys used to take retro cars cross the wilderness.......well you know that bit where they were followed by a really really rubbish car and threatened with having to drive it if their's broke?
And if they broke down it would pop it's nose around the corner with dramatic effect....

Well I always imagine that the mid level F1 drivers have that but with a Formula E car...