I had to let Perez go, says Whitmarsh
McLaren boss blames unnamed F1 principal for going back on word.
McLaren team principal Whitmarsh revealed his anger after rival team u-turned on Magnussen deal. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON:
Sergio Perez would still be at McLaren next season if one unnamed Formula One principal had not reneged on a deal to give Kevin Magnussen a drive for 2014, according to team boss Martin Whitmarsh.
McLaren announced this month that Danish rookie Magnussen would be replacing the young Mexican next year alongside Jenson Button.
However, Whitmarsh told the official Formula One website that the first choice had been to keep Perez and find Magnussen a place elsewhere on the grid where he could learn the ropes for a year or two.
“I hoped and tried to find him [Magnussen] a cockpit,” he said. “I even did a deal and shook hands with a team principal up and down this paddock – an absolute deal – but he stepped back.”
“Even after 25 years (in the sport) I find that difficult to deal with – I know I shouldn’t, but I am still hopelessly naive. I still think that if you look somebody in the eye and shake hands then that’s a done deal,” added the Briton.
Whitmarsh said the end result was that McLaren decided Perez would have to go, even though the Mexican had done a ‘decent job’ and deserved to stay in Formula One. The team felt Magnussen, who had impressed in the simulator and testing as well as winning the Formula Renault 3.5 series title, was an extraordinary talent they simply could not overlook.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2013.
Sergio Perez would still be at McLaren next season if one unnamed Formula One principal had not reneged on a deal to give Kevin Magnussen a drive for 2014, according to team boss Martin Whitmarsh.
McLaren announced this month that Danish rookie Magnussen would be replacing the young Mexican next year alongside Jenson Button.
However, Whitmarsh told the official Formula One website that the first choice had been to keep Perez and find Magnussen a place elsewhere on the grid where he could learn the ropes for a year or two.
“I hoped and tried to find him [Magnussen] a cockpit,” he said. “I even did a deal and shook hands with a team principal up and down this paddock – an absolute deal – but he stepped back.”
“Even after 25 years (in the sport) I find that difficult to deal with – I know I shouldn’t, but I am still hopelessly naive. I still think that if you look somebody in the eye and shake hands then that’s a done deal,” added the Briton.
Whitmarsh said the end result was that McLaren decided Perez would have to go, even though the Mexican had done a ‘decent job’ and deserved to stay in Formula One. The team felt Magnussen, who had impressed in the simulator and testing as well as winning the Formula Renault 3.5 series title, was an extraordinary talent they simply could not overlook.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2013.