McLaren confirm doubts over Sergio Perez

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has confirmed doubts over whether Sergio Perez will be a success for the Woking-based outfit, after a particularly uncompetitive run of form from the Mexican driver. Since his announcement as Lewis Hamilton’s successor, Perez has failed to finish within the points for Sauber.

In an interview with British newspaper The Daily Mail, Martin Whitmarsh has confirmed he is unsure as to whether Sergio Perez could become a race or Championship winner with McLaren. When rumors began linking Lewis Hamilton to Mercedes, many were intrigued as to who McLaren would sign as the Briton’s replacement. The candidates varied from Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey (McLaren’s reserve and test drivers), to the likes of Paul di Resta. However, many were very surprised when reports linking Sergio Perez to McLaren became true.

Admittedly, Sergio Perez has performed sensationally throughout the 2012 season, finishing on the podium on numerous occasions and nearly taking victory at the wet/dry Malaysian Grand Prix. However, recently the 22-year-old Mexican has somewhat underperformed with Sauber, retiring from two of the last four races, and failing to score a single World Championship point since the Singapore Grand Prix.

"He is going to find a different world at McLaren," explained Martin Whitmarsh, in an interview with The Daily Mail. "He will turn up in Australia next year with so much more pressure on his shoulders and that is something he has to be groomed to deal with.

“If you turn up and we’re not on the first two rows and not competing for the win, then ourselves and Ferrari get that pressure in the way that no other F1 team does. When Red Bull weren’t competitive no one was piling into them so there is an added pressure to being a McLaren driver. He might think he understands it, but he doesn’t."

With Sergio Perez preparing for his final two races as a Sauber driver, the Mexican will be hoping he can end the 2012 season and his career with the Swiss outfit on a positive note, as Sauber continue to reel in Mercedes for fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. With Martin Whitmarsh now skeptical as to whether Perez can be a race winner with McLaren, the Mexican will be eager to prove Whitmarsh wrong once the 2013 season gets underway.

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