Gutierrez: I'm bored with finishing 11th
ByAutoSport
Published 22/09/2016 at 12:18 GMT
Esteban Gutierrez says he is bored with just missing out on his first point for Haas, having now finished 11th in a third of 2016's Formula 1 grands prix.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
Gutierrez's 11th place in Singapore last weekend was his fifth such result of the year.
He endured the lion's share of Haas's mechanical problems and bad luck earlier in the season as team-mate Romain Grosjean scored 28 points for the American outfit.
Though Gutierrez's personal form has improved since, the team has dropped down the pecking order.
He has finished 13th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 11th in the last five races.
"It's boring to finish P11," Gutierrez, who remains confident about being on the grid next year but has yet to confirm his seat, told Autosport.
"I don't know how many more I've got in the system, but this consistency shows that we are very close to the points.
"We have to keep fighting, keep motivated.
"It wasn't easy [in Singapore] to find our way with the upgrades, so we can focus on that, try to optimise our parts.
"I hope to come back to Malaysia with a better view and better preparation to try to extract more from the upgrade."
Team boss Gunther Steiner was pleased with the Mexican's performance in Singapore, even if he did fail to break his points duck.
"Esteban had a good weekend," he said. "He did what he needed to do.
"He finished 11th again, without points, but what can you do?
"Five times this year he has finished 11th, which is consistent."
Gutierrez appears to be building in confidence and says he is starting to enjoy racing again after a difficult start to the year.
"Every race I feel stronger, I feel better and I enjoy more," he said.
"There's better communication in the team and I'm very proud of my crew because we've been working very well.
"The whole team, everybody is pushing very hard to make things better for everybody."
GUTIERREZ'S 11TH PLACE HABIT
Spain - +7.643s to Kvyat's Toro Rosso in 10th
Monaco - +54.701s to Massa's Williams in 10th
Austria - +0.621s to Wehrlein's Manor in 10th
Germany - +6.697s to Perez's Force India in 10th
Singapore - +16.887s to Magnussen's Renault in 10th*
* Gap taken from last full lap both completed as Gutierrez was lapped and Magnussen wasn't
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