Perez announces McLaren departure

Sergio Perez has confirmed he will leave the McLaren team at the end of the 2013 season, after only one year with them.

The announcement comes in the build up to what is the Mexican driver’s ‘home race’ in Austin, Texas.

In a statement released by Perez yesterday, he said, “First of all, I would like to thank McLaren for giving me the opportunity to be with them this season.

“It has been an honour for me to have been in one of the most competitive teams in the sport and I do not regret even a bit having joined them.

“I have always given the best of me for the team and still despite this I could not achieve what I aimed for in this historic team.”

Perez was recruited by McLaren for 2013 after Lewis Hamilton made a spectacular exit from the team in 2012.

Perez’s strong performances for Sauber last year was what earned him a spot in the championship winning team.

McLaren have endured a difficult season this year, with an uncompetitive car. The Mexican’s best result so far has been a fifth place finish at the Indian Grand Prix.

Expectations were for podiums and race wins when ‘Checo’ Perez first signed for the legendary team.

“I would like to wish the team the very best in the future. I will always be a fan of McLaren. In the meantime, I will be looking at my future to ensure my position in the best possible package to fight for wins.

“Thanks to McLaren and all of its partners for this season, you can rest assured that I will never give up,” he concluded.

McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh responded to Perez’s comments by saying, “First of all, we would like to thank Checo for his kind and gracious statement, and for being a fine team member during the 2013 Formula One season.

“There are still two Grands Prix yet to run this year, and our collective focus is on scoring as many points as we can in those two remaining races.

“Checo has made many friends during his time at McLaren – and, together, as a team, we intend to do our utmost to help him finish his year with us with two good results, especially here in Austin, where he has so many fans.

“We wish him well for the future, and are sure that he will have many successes ahead of him.”

In terms of Jenson Button’s new partner for 2014, Whitmarsh commented, “As regards our driver line-up for next year, no 2014 deal has yet been signed with any driver except Jenson, and we therefore have nothing further to announce at this time.”

However it is strongly suggested McLaren development driver and Formula 3.5 champion Kevin Magnussen will be in the car next to Button in 2014.