"He [Perez] had some great races last year but I'm not yet clear as to what level of information or value he brings the team. "Give Perez a really good car and he might shine but to me the ultimate driver is one who can drag performance out of an underperforming car. The jury is still out as to whether Perez has the potential to do that."
http://www.f1times.c...s/display/07423
To me, he doesn't look like to be on par with previous Mclaren signings of the new Millennium:- Kimi Raikkonen, JP Montoya, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button. These guys just made the car fast, asap, and didn't require a 'schooling' period for Racecraft!! I have some doubts if he can show flashes of 'one lap' speed which even Heikki Kovalainen proved over one lap against Hamilton.
Most of his podium were due to strategic gameplay that Sauber could afford to risk with the tyres & changing conditions. I found his Monza drive to be excellent though, so there might be something there. But how long can Mclaren wait for him to "Learn", Contribute & Help in development considering the kind of instant live pressure RBR, Ferrari, Merc & Lotus drivers are going to be providing over the season & beyond.
Time to time some teams & fans make the mistake of thinking drivers can learn in F1, whereas great drivers actually just box in and perform for a team like Mclaren & Ferrari. Also, F1 isn't a school, but a platform for maximum performance from day 1. There shouldn't, in reality be a honeymoon period if you land a drive with the Second Grandest Team on the grid. That period has past with Sauber.
I hope Sergio can quickly understand his big team environment, the 2013 Mclaren Car and start giving feedback alongside Jenson Button to make this years car a lot faster. Also, now that Hamilton isn't there, Mclaren are missing a benchmark as Perez's qualifying pace was never good in the first place. For e.g. Nico Hulkenberg has one lap pace & has one pole... maybe Mclaren needed pace over race distance... a hasty signing to me due to Sponsor pressure!
If Perez thought Mclaren will be easy, the MP4-28 has just given him the toughest initiation to prove his worth, hoping he can grasp it.
Edited by BackOnTop, 05 April 2013 - 03:25.