McLaren aren’t concerned by Sergio Perez’s recent run of poor form which has seen the Mexican fail to score in three races, ironically since signing for McLaren where he will race in 2013.
Perez has been involved in a handful of incidents since the Singapore Grand Prix where he scored a single point for Sauber. In Japan he span out of the race after attempting to pass current McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton, he was then involved in a first-lap crasg in Korea and suffered a puncture in Japan when he and Daniel Ricciardo collided.
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh isn’t worried though, and insists the 22-year-old is still learning.
“He is a young and exciting driver. Exciting can be good, it can be bad. But I think he did a fantastic job to be up there in qualifying,” said Whitmarsh of Perez’s eighth place.
“He has the speed, and he wants to get up there and win. But if he hasn’t got something to learn at 22, there is something wrong.
“I haven’t spent much time with him, but the time I have spent [with him, I found him to be] very intelligent, and very ambitious. And, at the moment, he has a good level of humility.
“If we can turn him into a world champion he will lose some of that along the way,” he added.
Whitmarsh also revealed that he may try and persuade Sauber to release Perez early, as at present he is unable to start working with McLaren until January 1st when his contract expires.
“We are trying to be respectful of the fact that he is doing a job at Sauber.
“We have had limited contact at the moment. Sauber have been very gracious and they have accepted what is happening and understand why Sergio is doing it,” continued Whitmarsh.
“We have a very good relationship with Sauber but I don’t think it is appropriate to push the point at the moment.”
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