( CNN ) -- Sauber has confirmed that Mexico 's Esteban Gutierrez will replace Kamui Kobayashi as the team 's second driver for next season . The 21-year-old , who has been the team 's reserve driver over the past year , will team up with Nico Hülkenberg , who has joined from Force India . Guttierrez finished third in the GP2 championship last season after winning three races , and will continue Sauber 's recent tradition of having a Mexican driver with Sergio Perez having announced he will be joining McLaren at the end of the season . The deal means Sauber , who has a sponsorship deal with Mexican telecommunications company Telmex , has another Mexican driver at its disposal . While Telmex is owned by by the world 's richest man , Carlos Slim , Kobayashi boasts no such support . The Japanese driver sits 11th in the current rankings , just below Perez and above Hulkenburg . Who is F1 's greatest driver ? Guttierrez told the team 's official website : `` After three years working with Sauber I feel very grateful for all the attention I have received from everyone in the team and for all their input , which has allowed me to develop into a Formula One driver in a very progressive way . `` Now , after experiencing other categories of racing as an introduction to Formula One , this is the start of the real challenge to succeed at the pinnacle of motor sport . `` The support from my family , as well as from my sponsors , has been a key factor in getting there and I am very grateful to everyone who has been involved in our project . `` It will be a great pleasure to be racing in the same team as an experienced driver like Nico Hülkenberg . `` He will be a good reference point for me and will push me to adapt quickly to F1 competition so we can develop the car together with the team in the best way . '' Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn added : `` Esteban has already been part of the team for a long time and we have followed his career very closely . `` In 2010 we signed him up as an affiliated driver , and in 2011 and 2012 he was our test and reserve driver . We mapped out his path to Formula One step by step . `` Esteban has great talent and now he 's ready to take the leap . We are in no doubt we have a strong driver pairing in place for the 2013 season with Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Gutiérrez . '' Blog : Vettel , Alonso on track for greatness ? Sauber has also taken on Dutch driver Robin Frijns as its new test and reserve driver . Meanwhile , Caterham has announced that Charles Pic will drive for the team next season after signing a long-term deal following his decision to leave Marussia . The 22-year-old , who recorded highest finishes of 15th at the Australian Grand Prix and European Grand Prix , is relishing the new opportunity . `` I am very proud to be able to confirm that I am joining Caterham F1 Team next year and I 'm looking forward to many seasons of successful racing cooperation , '' he said . `` It is clear that the team has great ambitions for the future : the investments already made and the decisions taken in the last few months show how committed the shareholders are to succeed and demonstrates their willingness to keep going forward . `` I am very excited about starting my second year in F1 with a team that has so much potential . Caterham F1 Team has everything in place to help it move into a position to fight with a number of teams ahead . `` I know how determined the team is to keep progressing and I am looking forward to playing my part in helping them move up the grid . ''
Marussia 's Marussia to race for Sauber next season . Guttierrez will line up alongside Guttierrez in 2013 . Caterham to leave team following disappointing season . Charles Pic signs long-term deal with Caterham after leaving Guttierrez .