“It was right for us to lead the team initially and set a template of how
it should be. That vision is now set and the team is ready to move forward
to the midfield.”
McLaren
team principal Martin Whitmarsh, meanwhile, said “time will tell”
whether McLaren have made an error in judgment signing the young Mexican
driver Sergio Pérez to replace Mercedes-bound Lewis Hamilton.
Pérez has yet to win a point in the five races for Sauber
since he was confirmed as Hamilton’s replacement for next season. But
Whitmarsh said it was far too early to draw any conclusions.
“He is 22 years old, the same age now as when Lewis started in Formula One,”
Whitmarsh said. “He has a lot of talent, and we would not have signed
him unless we thought he could go to another level.
“We don’t know [about his championship credentials] because he has never
experienced the type of pressure Jenson and Lewis are under. You turn up in
a McLaren, and if you are not on the front couple of rows then there is a
lot of pressure applied on you. Jenson and Lewis know that, they have
experienced it, they live it, but they live with it, thrive and do well.
“There have been drivers who have talent, can live with that pressure and
deliver, and others that can’t. It would be foolish of me to sit here and
say that in taking a very young driver there is not an element of risk.
“But we wouldn’t have done it unless we felt there was a possibility [of
him becoming champion]. Time will tell, and we’ll have that inquest next
year.”