Esteban Gutierrez has maintained his innocence despite criticism from Pascal Wehrlein that the Haas F1 Team driver caused the first lap collision that ended the Manor Racing MRT’s driver’s race and caused Marcus Ericsson to pit with damage to his front wing.
Wehrlein believed Gutierrez had braked too hard and ran into him, but the Mexican believes there was nothing he could have done to avoid the clash, a view that was shared with the stewards who deemed that no action needed to be taken over the incident.
Gutierrez admits that he would have been frustrated about retiring from the Grand Prix had he been in Wehrlein’s shoes, but feels the German’s displeasure towards him is not warranted.
“I wouldn’t be happy if I was out of the race, but there was no way I could avoid the contact,” said Gutierrez on Autosport.com. “I had a Sauber on the left and he [Wehrlein] was on the right, and it was like being squeezed in between two cars.
“I understand that he pissed off because of his race and if I was in this position I would do the same. But he cannot be upset with me because I had absolutely nothing to do there.”
