Sauber announced this morning that rookie driver Esteban Gutiérrez will get a second season with the Swiss team. The Mexican will partner the recently confirmed Adrian Sutil for 2014. In conjunction, Telmex, the Mexican telecommunications company, have extended their partnership and driver development programme.

Esteban, who finished 16th in his debut F1 season, is predictably delighted to remain in the sport.

"I am happy to be able to continue as a driver for the Sauber F1 Team. It was a steep learning curve last season, but by working closely with the team I was able to improve continuously. It will be my fourth year with the team, the second as a racing driver, and I feel comfortable in taking the next step.

"The technical challenges in 2014 will be massive. Therefore it will be even more important to know well the people you are working with. I will do my very best to improve even more and support the team the best way I can.”

Team Principal, Monisha Kaltenborn is positive Gutiérrez can build upon his favourable first year of racing.

"We are pleased Esteban will drive for us in 2014, because we believe he is a talented young racing driver. Last season he experienced first hand how hard it can be for a rookie to step into Formula One. Nevertheless, throughout the season he improved significantly in qualifying as well as in the races and finished the year as the best rookie in the drivers' championship.

"I am confident Esteban will be able to use his experiences to gain results, and this will be helped by the fact he is very well acquainted with every member of the race team."

Today's signing means that Russian driver Sergey Sirotkin will no longer be making his F1 race debut next March as had originally been planned. Back in the summer it was hoped that Sirotkin could secure a superlicence and be race ready for the start of the new season, instead he will take up the role of test driver in the new year.

With Sauber having finalised their line up, just three seats remain available for the coming F1 season.