Esteban Gutierrez was left frustrated after being forced to retire early during the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday following a violent clash with Fernando Alonso on the eighteenth lap.
The Haas F1 Team driver was running ahead of the McLaren-Honda driver, who had just made a pit stop, but the two collided in the breaking zone at turn three, with the Mexican driver ending up in the gravel trap with a broken rear suspension.
Gutierrez was happy that Alonso, who hit the outside wall and barrel rolled his McLaren in the same gravel trap in the incident, emerged unscathed, and was delighted that team-mate Romain Grosjean secured debut points for the American team on Sunday, with the Mexican immediately turning his attention to the next Grand Prix in Bahrain early next month.
“It’s not the race I was hoping for,” insisted Gutierrez. “However, the most important thing is that Fernando and I are both OK.
“The car was handling well and the results show we can be very competitive. Romain did a great job for the team. To achieve points in our first race is fantastic.
“I’m now looking ahead and focusing on Bahrain. I can’t wait to get back out racing.”
