Sergio Perez has made his first official appearance as a McLaren driver today.
Perez met members of the media at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.
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Chris (@tophercheese21)
9th January 2013, 13:06
I thing is for sure, this years USA GP is going to have a much larger percentage of Mexicans in the crowd now that Sergio is in a race winning seat.
Best of luck to him!
Chris (@tophercheese21)
9th January 2013, 13:07
*One thing
Klaas de Vries
9th January 2013, 13:08
I think it’s too early to say that.
ajokay (@)
9th January 2013, 13:13
There was the odd occasion he was in a race-winning seat last year.
petebaldwin (@)
9th January 2013, 13:19
Even if McLaren create a horrible car, they will have Perez in a race-winning car by the USGP. I would be willing to bet a large amount of money on Perez winning more than one race this year.
Klaas de Vries
9th January 2013, 15:37
I think McLaren made it crystal clear this season that a winning car is not enough in order to win races for this team.
Mads (@mads)
9th January 2013, 16:34
While they did mess up quite a few times, they were able to win a noticeable number of races this year. Both JB and Hamilton.
And their pitstop problems will be largely sorted out for next year as they didn’t have too much trouble with it later in the season. Not more so then any other team..
Whether they can have the consistency to win the championships, even with the best car, I am not too sure. But they are going to win races. It would be nearly impossible for them not to.
mantresx (@mantresx)
9th January 2013, 21:27
There will also be a lot of Gutiérrez fans I’m sure, after all, his hometown is only a few hours drive from Austin.
alexf1man (@alexf1man)
9th January 2013, 13:09
Sitting on a car that crashed into Massa so many times it got predictable… I hope he at least wins a couple of races with a number of decent top 4 finishes.
Girts (@girts)
9th January 2013, 13:11
I hope that the new McLaren is going to be VERY good, this lovely smile must be on the podium at least every other race.
ScuderiaVincero (@scuderiavincero)
9th January 2013, 14:05
+1 on that
celeste (@celeste)
9th January 2013, 14:07
@girts forget the smile, those brown boots the lady is wearing need a price on their own
Andy (@turbof1)
9th January 2013, 14:08
Dunno about you, but I would be smiling my teeth out a la Grosjean all year long when I got a seat at McLaren.
Journeyer (@journeyer)
9th January 2013, 13:13
Welcome to the big leagues, Checo. Don’t blow it. ;)
ScuderiaVincero (@scuderiavincero)
9th January 2013, 15:12
@journeyer I missed the reference :(
Nick.UK (@)
9th January 2013, 13:28
He looks a bit odd in McLaren gear, especially as we’ve only ever seen him in Sauber’s kit. It will be a very strange sight seeing Lewis wearing the Mercedes colours!
Klaas de Vries
9th January 2013, 15:23
I actually think those colours suit Perez very well. The only driver imo who looked horrible in the McLaren overalls was Alonso. Yeah, me too looking forward to see Lewis in his new kit. I wonder if HAM will keep the same helmet colour.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
9th January 2013, 16:27
I don’t see why he would change that now: his helmet design is based on his icon Ayrton Senna’s and is something he holds very dear to him, rather unlike Vettel with his new designs on average every two races at least!
PieLighter (@pielighter)
9th January 2013, 18:15
@vettel1 It’s more a case of Hamilton and Rosberg will both have yellow helmets.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
9th January 2013, 18:28
@pielighter – of course though the overhead cameras are coloured yellow and red to distinguish between the two. I still doubt even if we didn’t have that distinction though that Hamilton would change his helmet.
I’d expect if anyone was to change their helmet design it’d be Rosberg!
Kingshark (@kingshark)
9th January 2013, 18:57
@vettel1
Why should Rosberg change his helmet? He’s been on the team first.
And no, unlike the rumors suggest, Lewis’s helmet design has absolutely nothing to do with Senna.
http://www.asiaone.com/Multimedia/Story/A1Multimedia20070723-844.html
Kingshark (@kingshark)
9th January 2013, 19:01
However, regardless, I don’t care who gets the yellow helmet. However, one of them needs to change, At Spa 2011, both Michael and Nico had golden-yellowish helmets. When looking at the helmets individually, then could be set apart. However, when going at 300 KP/H it was often very hard to spot the difference.
http://desdelapelouse.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/f1-2011-12-belgica-mercedes.jpg
Helmets are the easiest way to distinguish drivers. Then again, I don’t care who changes, as long as one or the other does.
However, Nico, PLEASE change those gloves man. Every time I watch his onboard, I am reminded that I still have to do the dishes.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
9th January 2013, 19:28
@kingshark
Indeed but that doesn’t necessitate that one driver changes his design. I don’t believe there is a regulation regarding clashing helmet designs. I have looked up article 21 of the sporting regulations regarding car livery and I have only found this:
So in essence it is not essential for either driver to change their helmet design, although indeed it would help to allow us to distinguish between them!
I agree that Rosberg shouldn’t be forced into changing his helmet design but I assume Hamilton will be taking the lead role at Mercedes and so will have first choice I presume on issues such as this.
mantresx (@mantresx)
9th January 2013, 21:35
He will keep the same colour sure but hopefully it will look much better without that ugly Vodafone band, also what are the odds that Pérez has Telmex written on his instead??
electrolite (@electrolite)
9th January 2013, 22:43
Rosberg’s was originally blue and a brighter yellow than Hamiltons. If they bring that back (now the Schumacher/Rosberg respective all out red/yellow has gone) then I think it’ll be easy enough to distinguish between the two.
andae23 (@andae23)
9th January 2013, 13:40
I saw a video on Sky that showed Pérez arriving at the McLaren headquarters in a painfully orange McLaren mp4/12-whatever, hugging Whitmarsh once he got out and stuff… and now looking at the pictures it looks like he’s getting a tour of the building, looking at the amazing mp4/4 and other McLaren cars.
I really hate that they make this into such a PR-event. Why can’t they combine the installation of their new driver with the unveiling of their car – like other teams? Or maybe take inspiration from Williams, that let Maldonado and Bottas (too be fair, not the two most sparkling characters on the grid) do games like “don’t say yes/no”. Anything’s better than this hopelessly fake event.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
9th January 2013, 14:11
“Why can’t they combine the installation of their new driver with the unveiling of their car – like other teams?”
Probably so as not to detract from the unveiling of the new car by members of the media distracted by his first appearance for the team when McLaren want the press talking about the new car.
SK (@terminator)
9th January 2013, 14:33
This is Mclaren we are talking about. The most PR-savvy team in F1. Sometimes it’s like they care more about PR and less about winning on the track.
Bob (@bobthevulcan)
9th January 2013, 14:38
It’s consistent with McLaren’s corporate identity… emphasis on “corporate”.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
9th January 2013, 14:43
@andae23
Why waste an opportunity to get more column inches for their team and more pictures in the press for their sponsors? Separating the two is a no-brainer. (I write this while sat in a hotel waiting to interview Perez, by the way!)
Tango (@tango)
9th January 2013, 14:58
That’s a great teaser right here !
ScuderiaVincero (@scuderiavincero)
9th January 2013, 15:11
@keithcollantine We’ll be waiting :)
OmarR-Pepper (@)
9th January 2013, 15:14
@keithcollantine you lucky man!!!
andae23 (@andae23)
9th January 2013, 15:37
Good luck!
John H (@john-h)
9th January 2013, 17:38
I like to think of it as Perez meeting @keithcollantine for the first time.
“Welcome to the big leagues Checo” ;)
JPQuesado (@joao-pedro-cq)
10th January 2013, 18:04
Are the guy in the white shirt with glasses on the 15th picture, @keithcollantine?
JPQuesado (@joao-pedro-cq)
10th January 2013, 18:06
link: http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/page/gallery–checo-checks-in
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
10th January 2013, 18:13
@joao-pedro-cq Yeah that’s the guy who I am :-)
Guccio (@concalvez00)
9th January 2013, 16:39
The hugging part was a bit odd in my opinion
Journeyer (@journeyer)
9th January 2013, 13:44
Random thought: Perez there is sitting on the front left tyre of Lewis’ 2011 car. Talk about symbolic, McLaren.
filippo vettel
9th January 2013, 13:45
Perez is a top driver (Ferrari mens will regret him soon) and he’s gonna be great competitor 2013 ahead Button
electrolite (@electrolite)
9th January 2013, 14:19
Ha! This is so weird. But exciting nonetheless.
Force Maikel (@force-maikel)
9th January 2013, 14:32
One word: weird!
ps: I wonder if he could use that picture with him and withmarsh on it as a nice postcard so he can sent it to Maranello
Klaas de Vries
9th January 2013, 15:31
Ha ha, nice one. And in return Ferrari could send him a tiny piece of paper on which there would be written all the Championships won by McLaren for the last 10 years.
Häkkimi (@feynman)
9th January 2013, 20:45
Lol!
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
9th January 2013, 14:33
Who’s the blonde?
KaIIe (@kaiie)
10th January 2013, 7:07
Guessing it’s BBC’s Jennie Gow.
jimscreechy (@)
10th January 2013, 18:13
You mean the one who looks like she’s nicked the clothes from her old dear’s wardrobe?
filippo vettel
9th January 2013, 14:39
very nice and glorious pic with mika ayrton & alain helmet
G (@unklegsif)
9th January 2013, 15:13
1, He needs a bigger hat (too much hair)
2, If he shaves his arms and gets a haircut, he’ll save a few kg on his race weight ;-)
3, He has tiny hands compared to Martin Whitmarsh (my Mrs says she doesnt trust [cue suggestive interpretation of statement to ther anatomical areas] guys with small hands… he says mashing the keyboard with fingers the size of suasage rolls ;-)
4, Probably Georgie T from Sky
G
jimscreechy (@)
10th January 2013, 18:12
LOL – too funny
OmarR-Pepper (@)
9th January 2013, 15:15
somebody complaining about the orange MP4-12? It’s a McLaren for goodness sake! I wish I got an old Lada on my first day at work!!!
Oskar (@oskar)
9th January 2013, 15:39
It´s like an empty slot for me since Hamilton´s farewell. Sure it will change with the first test in Jerez. I will pay attention.
Guccio (@concalvez00)
9th January 2013, 16:44
I noticed too
Beto (@chebeto0)
9th January 2013, 15:44
Oh Checo, who told you to wear those shoes?
jimscreechy (@)
9th January 2013, 15:58
Hmm he certainly had his moments in the Sauber in 2012, but by mid season he really seemed to lose the edge he had at the begining. I’ve heard comments that verification of his move to Mclaren affecting his attitude and causing the slump in his performance… hmmmm. Like most F1 drivers he has some serious talent, his finesse with the car in changing grip conditions from tyres and in the wet is quite impressive, and definately one of his strengths, but that doesnt necessarily make him quick enought to compete at the front. He’s definatly no slouch, but how it will play out we can only guess. I’m more interested on how he will fair against Button. We have a resonable yardstick to measure him with against Kobybashi, and of course we know pretty well how button measures up against the rest of the field (if were honest) so it will be a very intersting to see how he does when the chips fall during his Mclaren stint… and of course I want to know how they will make him look on the “Tooned” cartoon series, will they exaggerate his teeth beyond all reasonable proportions?
Zantkiller (@)
9th January 2013, 16:24
McLaren have scheduled a Sergio Hangout livestream on their YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQWA1vg3UyE&feature=g-subs-u
Brace (@brace)
9th January 2013, 16:46
I don’t know what it is exactly, but he looks like a waiter in that outfit.
Hugo Villanueva
9th January 2013, 19:39
Make it big , Checo
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
10th January 2013, 6:47
It’s not the complete look until he’s in race overalls!
AdrianMorse (@adrianmorse)
10th January 2013, 8:26
2013 will be a strange season for me. First, there are only three live races on Dutch TV, two of which coincide with the 10 races on the BBC (great), and for the rest I hope I can watch German RTL (I fear a lot of ad breaks).
More importantly, this might be the first time since 2007 that none of the winning teams have a driver I’m really rooting for (unless next year’s Mercedes is great). I won’t suddenly be cheering Vettel or Alonso to victory, and although I have nothing against Button and Perez, it will be painful if either Lewis’s former team mate or the guy who replaced him will win the world championship.