• McLaren

Perez 'in a very difficult position' over future

ESPN Staff
November 14, 2013 « Perez announces his McLaren exit | Maldonado 'very happy' to be leaving Williams »
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Sergio Perez admits the timing of McLaren's decision to replace him has left him "in a very difficult position" but insists he is not bitter at the team.

It was announced on Wednesday that Perez would not be retained by McLaren for a second season, with the team likely to promote young driver Kevin Magnussen in to a race seat in 2014. Speaking at a FOTA Fans Forum in Austin, Perez was asked if the team was unfairly dropping him after delivering a poor car this year but declined to criticise McLaren.

"I can stand here and tell you that the team wasn't fair to me, but they have the decision and I really appreciate it," Perez said. "I will keep the best from the team which is a great family and I have no regrets. Obviously the decision came very late and it puts me in a very difficult position, but this is life and I have to move forward. I already moved forward and that's why we decided to announce it; so I can relieve this pressure and just focus on these last two races to try to give the very best."

However, Perez admitted the timing of the decision could see him leave Formula One.

"If I don't find the right option for my career then maybe I will look for something else, but the aim is to look for something good with a good team that can give me the opportunity to win races."

Perez also said he didn't feel there was much more he or the team could have done this season with an uncompetitive car.

"I always tried to look after the team. I think there were situations this year when the team was under so much pressure because we are McLaren, we have one of the biggest budgets and with the season we've just had you can imagine the amount of pressure. So it was pressure on me, on Jenson, on Martin, on everyone at the team. I think the most important thing was for everyone to be together and I think we did pretty well. We all as a team - it's what makes me feel proud of my team - we always stayed together and I think that was crucial for such a difficult year."

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