• Singapore Grand Prix

Perez denies McLaren approach

Sergio Perez: "I feel ready to do a good job for a top team, to be able to fight for the title, for the championship" © Sutton Images

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Sergio Perez has revealed that he hasn't been approached by any teams for his services in 2013 amid rumours McLaren wants him as a potential replacement to Lewis Hamilton.

Reports over the weekend suggested that McLaren had made contact with Perez over the possibility of him replacing Hamilton should he join Mercedes. Perez, however, said that he hasn't had any approaches and is ignoring rumours which he says are solely based on his strong second place in the Italian Grand Prix.

"In the position that I'm in when I have a good result - because I'm fighting for the points and sometimes I can get some good podiums - it's always the time when the rumours start," Perez said. "But then you have a bad race and then there are no more rumours and they are changing to the driver who had a good race. So in that respect I'm not really worried; I know that I have a very strong car for the next seven races so I hope I can deliver very strong performances."

When asked if any approaches had been made, Perez simply replied: "No."

Perez did admit, however, that his status as a member of the Ferrari Academy would not have an impact on the possibility of driving for any other team.

"No, not really. I have a nice connection to Ferrari through the Ferrari Academy but I'm just part of the Ferrari Academy, I'm not part of the Ferrari team. So it doesn't affect it."

With Luca di Montezemolo having said that Perez is not experienced enough to drive for Ferrari, Perez himself believes he's ready to perform at a top team.

"In respect to what Montezemolo said about the experience - I fully respect his opinion. I have to know my position, probably he means that to become a Ferrari driver you need more (experience) - I don't know, it's only my second year in Formula One. I feel ready to do a good job for a top team, to be able to fight for the title, for the championship, so in that respect I feel ready but I fully respect his opinion."

Looking at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, Perez said his target would be to score another podium following his second place at Monza.

"I definitely have a very strong feeling. It's not similar to the Spa or Monza circuits but I think we should be quite good here. It's very difficult to know what to expect but I think we can be competitive here too and this is our target now to fight for the podium again."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.