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Gutierrez shrugs off blue flag etiquette criticism

Esteban Gutierrez has shrugged off criticism of his behaviour when being lapped by faster cars.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB12 and Esteban Gutierrez, Haas F1 Team VF-16

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB12 and Esteban Gutierrez, Haas F1 Team VF-16

XPB Images

Esteban Gutierrez, Haas F1 Team VF-16
Esteban Gutierrez, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Gutierrez, Haas F1 Team VF-16
Esteban Gutierrez, Haas F1 Team VF-16
Esteban Gutierrez, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Gutierrez, Haas F1 Team VF-16
Esteban Gutierrez, Haas F1 Team

The Haas driver has been on the receiving end of comments from some of his rivals, and after the Singapore Grand Prix, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff singled out Gutierrez for not making it easy for his drivers to pass under blue flags.

However, the Mexican insists that he is following the letter of the law.

"Look, I'm going to reply very simply," he said when asked about the criticism.

"In the same way that Toto is trying to lose the least possible under a blue flag for his drivers, and trying to put pressure on the FIA to be more strict on that, me as a driver getting the blue flag, I'm trying to lose the least time possible as well, within the rules, without affecting anyone.

"So the same thing that he's doing, I'm doing it as well. So it's fair and straight."

Gutierrez admitted it is not always easy to get it right, and he learned a lesson at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"In Budapest I went a bit too far, and I know where is the limit, and I'm playing with the line," he said. "Obviously every team principal wants their drivers to do their race as quick as possible.

"That's what I will do and I want it for myself as well, because I was fighting for a position. Whether they compare me with other drivers, I don't really care, because I'm focussing on my own race, and trying to do my own thing."

The Mexican is adamant that he did nothing wrong in Singapore.

"I think it was spot-on, really good," he added. "I didn't affect anyone, I didn't lose time myself, I finished in front of Felipe [Massa], so that was the target.

"I was pushing like you have no idea for the whole race, so obviously when you get a blue flag you want to lose the least time possible. It's normal when you push at that level. I know that Toto said I was cruising around, so it's clear that he hasn't driven an F1 car basically! It wasn't the case."

Gutierrez insisted he is not worried about Wolff's criticisms: "It doesn't bother me at all, It won't change anything.

"We have a fantastic relationship, Toto and myself, from many, many years back. When we bump into each other, we'll have a nice chat."

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