Mat Coch writes:

This weekend's Australian Grand Prix marks Esteban Gutierrez's Formula One debut, yet despite the grandeur of the occasion the youngster insists he's not treating it any differently. It's just another race, another weekend, or so he claims.

"Of course there's some excitement," he concedes, "but at the same time my focus has been on having a very calm approach to the weekend."

A more focussed and efficient winter fitness programme has left him in better condition than he's ever been, while he claims he's shutting out anything that distracts him from the job at hand.

Time in the car over the winter was limited, though working with the more experienced Nico Hulkenberg has already proved a learning experience. "One of my goals early in the season is to get on his level," Gutierrez admits.

While Sauber is tipped to be a dark horse, and a likely points contender come Sunday, Gutierrez isn't allowing himself to entertain such flights of fancy, at least not in public. Instead he hopes for an unspectacular debut.

"For the beginning I need to work, I need to get up to speed with everything," he says. "I want to be focussed on the important things; I don't want to create big expectations.

"I will target to finish the race, first of all," he adds. "As a rookie that is the target. It's something that's special, important."