How Will Perez Do at McLaren?

Saw that coming with Ferrari's arrogance. And the thread starter needs to get his foot off his mouth on this one. Vettel most likely join the Scuderia, but probably not anytime soon.

I predict the situation with Perez and Button will be similar to Vettel and Webber. The youngsters enter as #2s, but by the end of their second season become the #1s. Could be wrong, but there should be a clear indication if this is also going to happen to Perez by the end of next season. His chemistry with the team is the most important factor IMO.

 

In my opinion, I think it is going to be earlier than that. By the second half of next year,
SP is going to be on JB toes. The key is qualifying.

 

Great move for Perez AND Mclaren. Epic Fail for Hami.
If Mclaren can bring the car next year, which they surely will, Perez's climb will be fun to watch.

I still cant believe this is real

 

yes...they know they'll get him in the end, if they want him.

 

EXACTLY! Doesn't make any sense. But then again I never thought LH would leave McLaren until his twilight years.

 

All of that is still TBD, imo. McLaren hasn't had a title winning car since 2007 and they've bungled things this year. The reset button is hit in 2014 and McLaren may be looking for a new engine supplier by then.

As far as Perez is concerned, we still need to see if Luca knows more than we do.

Gotta see how all of this plays out. You can draw conclusions, but I didn't see JB ever winning a WDC either.

After all, people thought Schu was insane for leaving back-to-back WDC's at Bennetton for long-dormant Ferrari back in 1996. We all know how that worked out...and Brawn was part of that back then also.

 

I think that Ferrari did the right thing with Perez. With moving to a great team (in this case McLaren) comes a much bigger responsibility, pressure, stress and therefore mistakes and eventually/hopefully maturity as a racer and team player. The way I see it, Ferrari just let SP cut his teeth and earn his stripes at another team's expense and then if they want they can have him once he is a much more "complete" driver.
In my mind, next year Ferrari are winners, because they have Alonso with Massa who now for sure "knows his place". McLaren are winners as they have an experienced driver in Jensen and a young star with great potential who brings them a good cash flow. Perez is the biggest winner as he got to drive for a team that will almost for sure give him a competitive car and put him on the front lines - competition, exposure and pay wise.
The only loser IMO from all this is Hambone, who made another boneheaded move. In 2014 with the new engines he may be sitting pretty, but I doubt that next season MB will make any headlines on Sundays.

 

With a 100 million 3 year deal in his back pocket , yeh what a loser.

 

Just to add to that, a quote from Mr Brawn :

Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, meanwhile, claimed that despite speculation to the contrary his team had not offered more money than McLaren.
“Lewis didn’t come here because we offered more money, because we didn’t,” he said. “I think for Lewis, the attraction was being part of that building structure – the creation of the team. Not walking into a ready-formed, successful package; it was being part of the process of building that package.”

 

i think hamilton has grown up quite a bit, i use to think he was insane with his early F1 driving, but he's matured ...ron d. is a game player & uber anal, i wouldn't be surprised if hamilton switched just to get away from that
perez is bit like hamilton was early on, now he'll have a chance to mature, but IMO it won't be without teething pains for mclaren

 

Perez will do fine, after all he is likely to be in one of the fastest cars on the grid. Relax and at worst he will come 4th.
Pete

 

I dont often agree with you point of view but this time I totally agree! Perez will do ok at McLaren, why Ferrari didnt hire him will hopefully become clear at some point.

 

Jenson and Perez are going to be a great pairing. As an up and coming driver Jenson would be my #1 pick as a mentor.

Fast lap at Monaco is a very useful barometer of how much raw talent you really have.
As good as any measurement.

 

Perez will shine at Mclaren as he will have a good car, great team and strong guidance.

 

Agree, they will make a great pair and it seems they will work well together. Jenson will like being a mentor until Perez matches his speed or beats him.

I referred to raw pace in qualifying. Fast lap is very good but even Nico Rosberg has had a fastest lap. Qualifying has been a different thing for Perez with Kobayashi staying ahead.

Don't get me wrong I think Perez is a smart and very quick driver. I'm still holding judgment on whether he can be as quick as Hamilton, Vettel or Alonso both in race and qualifying.

 

McLaren had an image problem with Lewis. It was about him, not the team. When you thought of McLaren, you first thought of LH. Now the team can relax with two dedicated drivers who will compete and work together in harmony. Both are capable of outpacing the other. Jensen drives like Massa or Alonso during any given race. Sergio steadily paces himself and gets better, but holds steady. It will be an interesting year for McLaren in 2013. At least now McLaren won't be rebuilding a car after every race.

 

Well, seeing SP racing against Alonso next year is going to be fun, whether LdM likes it
or not. And if his member of the Ferrari academy beats him, he may start changing
his position.

I keep thinking why staying with Massa for all this long. If Jules Bianchi is faster why
not bringing him in. Perhaps not replacing Massa, but to another team so that he gets
groomed. What a better fit, to allow SP in, and then Jules Bianchi to Sauber.

It just seems way too conservative and safe. Two years without a podium for Massa
is shocking to me. Enzo would have never allowed this in his days.