• Jerez Test, Day Two

McLaren's potential immediately obvious - Perez

Sergio Perez: "Since I drove out of the garage and did the first laps I knew that this car has good potential" © Getty Images

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• Drivers:
• Sergio Perez

• Teams:
• McLaren

Sergio Perez said he could feel the potential of the new McLaren as soon as he took to the track at Jerez on Wednesday.

Perez completed his first day at the wheel of the MP4-28 and racked up a healthy 81 laps with a best time of 1:19.572. He ended the day seventh fastest but said the potential of the McLaren was clear from his very first lap.

"The feedback is good straight away," he said. "Since I drove out of the garage and did the first laps I knew that this car has good potential.

"We don't know how competitive we are, but all I can say is the car feels quite good. We've got a lot of work to do on the next five days that we have and we have to keep our heads down because I think we are going in the right direction. Today was a good day because we managed to do some good programmes and hopefully we can keep doing the same over the next five days and for the start of the season."

Asked to rate his new McLaren against last year's Sauber, Perez said it was not possible to make a clear comparison but it was clear the McLaren was strong.

"It's difficult for me to compare the cars right now because we have different tyres and Jerez is a very different type of circuit," he added. "But I think the mechanical grip is good in the car but also the aero is a very complete car, so I'm happy with the car I've got."

Perez will now have five more days in the car before the opening race and he is aiming to learn as much as possible over that time.

"[There is a lot of] motivation, because once you know you have the car to do it, it is what you are dreaming of your whole life. It's an opportunity you don't want to waste so I have done an incredible preparation on the physical side and I have done an incredible preparation as well on the technical side. I was very happy with the preparation I had before testing so we have to do the same for the next five days and keep working so that we are in a good position for the start of the season."

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