As he begins work with Ferrari, Esteban Gutierrez appreciates that time is of the essence.

2014 saw the Maranello outfit fail to score a single win for the first time since 1993, whilst Sauber, which uses the Maranello outfit's power units, failed to score a single point, thereby recording its worst ever championship showing since it entered the sport in the same year.

This week, Esteban Gutierrez, recruited by Ferrari in mid-December after being dropped by Sauber, visited the Italian outfit's Maranello HQ for his seat fitting and to meet the members of his new team, including its other new driving recruit Sebastian Vettel.

"Now, the important thing for me is to adapt and to settle in to this new environment as quickly as possible, said the Mexican youngster. "I need to get to know the people I will be working with and I hope that my experience with the Ferrari engine will mean I can contribute to the development of the new power unit."

The 23-year-old is not the first Mexican to race a Ferrari in F1. Between 1964 and 1969, the legendary Pedro Rodriguez raced in NART (North American Racing Team) colours and those of the Scuderia in F1, whilst his brother Ricardo preceded him in 1961 and 1962, prior to his tragic death at the wheel of a Lotus on his home track.

Joining Ferrari is above all, "an honour, because this is a place where history is made," concluded Gutierrez.