Gutierrez must perform eventually - Kaltenborn

Sauber has backed struggling rookie Esteban Gutierrez, admitting however that the young Mexican will eventually come under pressure to perform.

Taking over at the Swiss team from the McLaren-bound Sergio Perez, 21-year-old Gutierrez has struggled so far in 2013 to match the performance and consistency of his teammate Nico Hulkenberg.

Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn is quoted by the website of Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport: "We have no doubt about his ability to understand what is wrong and recover."

Kaltenborn admitted that part of the problem is the troublesome C32 car.

"The car’s performance very much affects the performance of the drivers, so we are not jumping to conclusions, especially after only four races.

"At the same time we will be watching to see whether our expectations are met or not," she added.

"It is hard to find the right balance: we have to give him a chance to prove himself, but it’s also important to bring home results that have an impact on our finances and our future."