New McLaren signing Sergio Pérez has admitted he has a lot to do if he is to match the achievements of Mercedes-bound Lewis Hamilton at the Woking-based team.
The Mexican racer will move from Sauber to McLaren in place of the 2008 champion for 2013 and speaking in today’s official FIA press conference ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Pérez confessed he has “big shoes to fill”.
“I rate Lewis as one of the fastest drivers on the grid, so it won’t be easy at all,” he said. “I know I have very big shoes to fill, so it will be difficult, but I will give everything I can. I will work as hard as possible to give the best result and to win championships with this great team.”
And he added that he is already feeling the pressure of the move to a winning team.
“I think with McLaren there is no other option (than to win),” he admitted. “You have to win every race. You have a car with which you can win every race. It’s a guarantee: McLaren is always a guarantee. So I have to work very hard. I have to give everything to my team and I’m ready to do that, once I have finished this season.”
New team-mate Jenson Button, however, said Pérez had nothing to fear in joining McLaren and that the Mexican’s performances for his current outfit, for whom he has scored three podium finishes this year, have proved his worth.
“He’s let his driving do the talking and he’s had some very good performances over the last couple of years,” said Button. “That’s the reason he’s got the drive he has at the moment and why he’s got the drive he has for next year.”
Asked for his opinion about becoming Button’s team-mate, the new McLaren recruit said he was looking forward to the challenge but that he still had work to do for Sauber.
“It will be great to have a very good champion (as a team-mate)” he said. “It will be a pleasure to work with him, to reach the same target for the team, which is winning and making the best car possible. So I’m looking forward to working together with the whole team.
“I’m so motivated and enthusiastic to start working with my new team, but first I want to finish the next six races on a high for my (current) team and give everything I can for the team that gave me the opportunity to become a Formula One driver.”