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Sergio Perez wants McLaren to fight for Formula 1 title

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments199

Perez aims for title with McLaren

New McLaren signing Sergio Perez says his ambition is to fight for the Formula 1 championship in his debut season.

The Mexican, recruited to joins after

"Hopefully we can have a very strong car and fight for the championship. That has to be the target," Perez said.

Perez, 22, said it would not be easy to replace Hamilton but admitted he would have to be competitive from the start.

"I don't feel the pressure but obviously you have to deliver here in McLaren," said Perez, who will get his first taste of the 2013 McLaren at the first pre-season test in Jerez, Spain from 5-8 February, ahead of the start of the season in Australia on 17 March.

"You are coming here to deliver results, to win championships. This is the target when you come to McLaren, the best team in F1, you have to really deliver the results."

Perez pledged to "do my very best, give my very best to McLaren".

And he added that he expected no problems working with team-mate Jenson Button.

"I think we will work very well together for the team but obviously the target is to beat him and all the others. But I think myself with Jenson, we are a very good team."

Perez was talking on his first day working for McLaren at the team's base in Woking, Surrey, where he arrived at the wheel of one of the company's open-top sportscars.

He compared his feelings to those of making his F1 debut with Sauber two years ago.

"It's similar in terms of emotion," said Perez, who is 23 later this month. "It's something new for you but this is a lot bigger."

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199 comments

  • Comment posted by Dubz2010, at 17:42 9 Jan 2013

    BREAKING NEWS!! PERSON IN COMPETITION AIMS TO WIN SAID COMPETITION!!

    Gotta love the F1 coverage off-season, really clutching at straws.

  • Comment posted by User0647446846, at 15:19 9 Jan 2013

    It can get worse. We could have a useless frontpage article about one (1) tweet (140 characters) from Alonso.

    God I wish the Lord would take Andrew Benson and his daily mail articles today.

  • Comment posted by SportingPun, at 14:27 9 Jan 2013

    Right, thats the cliched "I'm at a new team and i'm here to win" interview done.

    Can we now comment on Helmet Marko's "I Love Sebastien Vettel" interview?

  • Comment posted by User0522669478, at 13:59 9 Jan 2013

    It took 37 words and 1 number to mention Lewis Hamilton.

    Andrew must be ill today.

    (BTW, i included the title)

  • Comment posted by Sky beats C4, at 14:39 9 Jan 2013

    Cause there are no comments on the alonso vs red bull chief executive page I will write it here.
    Did u see the comment about mark webber being unable to cope with pressure but with vettel he had a perfect season. if I was webber I would leave right now.

  • Comment posted by User0354674791, at 16:28 9 Jan 2013

    Why not? McLaren ended last season with one of the best cars and Sergio punched well above his cars weight. He will learn a lot from Jenson and could be more than a match for Seb and co.

  • Comment posted by gstone, at 16:20 9 Jan 2013

    I'm confused. Why wouldn't an interview with a Driver who has taken the vacant seat at McLaren mention the driver the replaced ? And why wouldn't the driver have already consdiered that and his response ? I would consider any journalist who ddidn't mention it to be ignorant of the situation, and a driver who was thrown by the question to be naive.
    Comparisons will be made, I wish SP and JB well.

  • Comment posted by als_seaham, at 16:50 9 Jan 2013

    Mclaren will be competitive next year, no doubt. They were quick at the season end, they have more cash to invest in the car with a cheaper driver, the tyres are going to be of a generally softer compound (suiting both their drivers) and the design direction will not be torn between 2 vastly differing styles.

  • Comment posted by Focusthemind, at 23:20 9 Jan 2013

    Welcome aboard the Mclaren machine Perez lets now see if you can deliver. Its a risk as it is always when a young and inexperienced driver joins one of the top teams. Jenson too is under pressure to deliver more consistently. The team need to make less mistakes and with a bit of luck thrown in the team has a chance. Forget Lewis that's past tense!

  • Comment posted by Terrible Ivan, at 13:36 9 Jan 2013

    Good luck to the kid, hope he manages to win a race somewhere and people don't compare him to Lewis all the time

  • Comment posted by Sportsmad19, at 14:50 9 Jan 2013

    I can't see Perez challenging for the title in 2013. I think Button will have the upper hand over the course of 2013 but by 2014, Perez should be in title contention. I can definitely see Perez getting a race win and having races where he will mix with the likes of Vettel and Alonso. But, like last season, I don't know whether he will be fully consistent. Look forward to seeing him in a McLaren.

  • Comment posted by Heethster, at 13:38 9 Jan 2013

    This season will show just how good (or how average) Hamilton actually is. Hamilton has been a young risk taker up until now. In one of the faster cars. If Perez performs, only the English will continue with the pro-Hamilton nonsense.

    I fully expect Perez to challenge just like Hamilton did.

  • Comment posted by justpassingtime, at 13:47 9 Jan 2013

    a bog standard interview with bog standard answers; yet open it up for comment and in no time it's back to the good old lewis vs jenson bashing

  • Comment posted by User0696175925, at 16:04 10 Jan 2013

    Whats Sergio gonna say to those Qs?

    "First day at your new job, how do you feel?"
    - Hate it already, I've got a thumping hangover and everyone expects me to be nice to them"

    "Is your target to beat Jenson?"
    - No, I plan on batting in and around the midfield in arguably the fastest car in F1

    "Is it nice to be back (in the UK)?"
    - No, I can't stand British weather, food, and above all the people.

  • Comment posted by als_seaham, at 09:38 10 Jan 2013

    Perez will do fine at Mclaren - he will get a good car fo sure & will without doubt benifit from experiencing the professionalism associated with one of the top 3 teams.

    As for the JB naysayers - keep pepetuating the myth chaps. He regularily beat FA,SV & KR in 2009, again in 2011 he beat FA, LH & a Red Bull & finished 2012 with as many wins as FA & the fastest car. However who needs facts eh?

  • Comment posted by User0347594469, at 18:27 9 Jan 2013

    You haven't got a chance Sergio! Now that petulant money grabbing brat Hamilton has gone it will be a clear road for Jenson Button to take the world championship and confirm his status as the finest driver of his generation

  • Comment posted by User0307692086, at 11:55 11 Jan 2013

    @143 I would question on LH achievements whether he should have been in the BBC Greats of F1.

  • Comment posted by R0n1n95i, at 13:06 11 Jan 2013

    @160
    "Scottish explains a lot"

    What exactly are you implying with this comment.

    You are well out of line now rn.

  • Comment posted by jonathan_c, at 14:27 10 Jan 2013

    76. djuckovic: Isn't that the definition of the word 'replace'?

  • Comment posted by goenzoy, at 17:16 9 Jan 2013

    39.gstone
    The Marko story is not much.Only 2 things.Seb is better under pressure when Mark.And Mr.Marko is just tired of statements
    like "RB wins only because of Adrian Newey.Also I m sure no teamboss is happy about a comment/photo with Massa/Alsono
    with machine-guns in there hand saying "Are you ready for the fight" like publised before Brazil GP.

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