McLaren can't risk losing 2014 season too - Perez

  • Published on 25 Jun 2013 08:26
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
McLaren must not 'lose' another whole season by bungling the development of its next car, new team driver Sergio Perez has warned. The young Mexican joined the Woking based team this year, just as it launched the uncompetitive MP4-28. Despite calls that it would be the most sensible solution, McLaren has so far refused to write off the current car in order to focus on the all-new rules of 2014.

Asked how far McLaren is from winning a race in 2013, Perez answered: "I think far away. "We need to make major improvements; breakthroughs. We are currently one second per lap slower," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace. "You don't win races when you're a second slower than everyone else."

Perez suggested the time might be coming when McLaren must draw a line under the MP4-28 and begin to ensure that 2014 is not similarly poor. "We have to give our best for the next couple of months, but at some point we'll have to focus on the 2014 car," he said. "We can't risk losing another year."

In terms of his development as an F1 driver, however, Perez admitted that 2013 has not been a totally 'lost' year. "I think I'm happy," he said, "because I've learned a lot, and grown a lot as a driver. Even though I have half the points that I had last year, I'm in a better position as a driver. When I came here with such a different car I realised that, compared to Jenson Button, I was not good enough," he is quoted by EFE news agency. "So I had to learn about that and work at it. Now I'm driving very differently to how I was at Sauber." (GMM)

Order the latest McLaren merchandise here!

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team McLaren
  • Points 37
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 41
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 19 1980 (44)
  • Place of b. Frome, Somerset, GB
  • Weight 72 kg
  • Length 1.82 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar