Bad timing for Pérez

Sergio Pérez had achieved three podium finishes for Sauber in 2012, so when Lewis Hamilton decided to leave McLaren for Mercedes in 2013, Pérez was subsequently confirmed as Hamilton’s replacement next to Jenson Button. This also ended Pérez’ association with Ferrari, as he was released from its driver academy.

Picture above: Sergio Pérez in the McLaren MP4-28, in the Parabolica at Monza, Italian Grand Prix 2013.

Pérez remembers: “It was all natural. I was part of the Ferrari Academy and there was a lot of contact with the team. It was all looking like I was going there, but things changed. We were also talking to Mercedes, but that really depended if Lewis didn’t go there. I was the second option. It’s what they said.”

Sergio continues: “2013 was the closest I came to going to Ferrari. That was very close. In hindsight, if I didn’t go to McLaren, I certainly would have gone to Ferrari but things change quickly in F1. McLaren at the time were dominating, they offered me a contract. It made a lot of sense at the time. Unfortunately, it didn’t pay off. The car was quite bad, and I was not able to score any podiums or fight for anything apart from points.”

Hampered by a drop in pace, balance issues and aerodynamics, McLaren suffered through their worst season in F1 for some 30 odd years. They failed to finish on the podium. Button would go on to finish ninth in the Drivers’ Championship with 73 points, while Pérez chalked up 11th with 49 points.