Gutierrez certain he'll be on F1 grid in 2017
Haas F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez says he is certain he will continue to compete in Formula 1 in 2017.
Gutierrez, 24, is believed to be on a one-year deal at Haas, with team boss Gunther Steiner having previously stated that no driver line-up decision will be made until after the Italian Grand Prix.
However, speaking on Thursday ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Gutierrez said: "I know what I'll be doing next year."
Asked by Motorsport.com whether that meant he had a seat in F1 for next year, the Mexican confirmed: "Yes, I will. Of course. This is what I want and this is what I'm here for."
Gutierrez, who would not elaborate further when pressed on whether he would carry on with Haas. also noted: "In Formula 1 you never know, maybe one day you wake up and you don't have a seat."
Points the "only objective"
Yet to score points with Haas, Gutierrez said recording a top-10 finish remained his primary objective, as he placed the blame for the scoreless streak on the fact he was yet to get a clean run in a grand prix.
"I would be frustrated, I would be worried, if I knew I didn't have the pace and the capacity to do it," Gutierrez said.
"But fortunately I have it, the pace of the car is good, the team has done in the great job, that has shown in the points scored so far - there are many things yet to be sorted, but it's things that will come on our way."
The Mexican reckoned that he could get a fair shot at breaking into the top 10 in the coming races.
"Should be pretty straightforward to achieve it, having a normal weekend.
"The good thing about here [at the Hungaroring] is the temperatures - every time we have low temperatures, we struggle more with the tyres, here, for sure, it'll be pretty hot. Hopefully, Hockenheim as well."
Additional reporting by Benjamin Vinel
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