The F1 world was abuzz with the recent revelation by Sergio Perez, who has opened up about his early career choices and the options he had on the table. But here's where it gets controversial... Perez, who joined the F1 grid in 2011 with Sauber, impressed with his early results, including three podiums during the 2012 season. The following year, he joined McLaren alongside Jenson Button, replacing Lewis Hamilton, who made the switch to Mercedes. However, Perez has revealed he had various options open to him - including Ferrari, having been associated with its junior programme during his opening seasons on the grid.
'It was very quick,' Perez told the Cracks podcast. 'I was the most wanted driver on the grid - normally young drivers have that, when a young driver arrives and gets results quickly, all teams want him because they don’t know what he can achieve.'
Perez had three different options from three big teams, one obviously Ferrari, because he got to F1 thanks to Ferrari, being part of their academy, and the logical thing was to follow that path, but Ferrari couldn’t offer him a seat until 2014. 'I was already desperate, young, you want it already, it was the best team to start fighting for championships, and I was desperate.'
Perez revealed that had Hamilton opted to stay put at McLaren, he could have made the switch across to the Brackley-based squad. 'And out of nowhere the option comes - I never thought, I always thought there were two teams I’d never drive for: McLaren and Red Bull, because they always have their drivers forged through their academy. And then McLaren comes. They were nervous because Hamilton was leaving, and if Hamilton didn’t go to Mercedes I also had the Mercedes option.'
Perez only lasted one season at McLaren as a disappointing campaign saw him depart the Woking-based outfit at the end of the year. So, what do you think? Do you agree with Perez's decision to join McLaren, or would you have taken the Ferrari or Mercedes option? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
