Sergio Pérez has been described as 'an extremely exciting prospect' by new team boss Martin Whitmarsh, with the Mexican moving to McLaren for the 2013 campaign. The Guadalajara-born driver joined the sport last year, instantly making an impact with his raw pace. This season, he has already scored three podium finishes with Sauber.
"On behalf of everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, I’m delighted to welcome Sergio on board," Whitmarsh explained on Friday. "His performances throughout 2012 have convinced us that he's an extremely exciting prospect for the future.
"It was a string of giant-killing performances, a trio of podiums and a brilliant fastest lap in this year’s Monaco Grand Prix that showed us that Sergio lacks nothing in terms of speed and commitment. We've been monitoring his progress carefully for some months - and, now that he's become part of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, our task will be to refine and develop his abilities as his career progresses over the coming years.
With Pérez joining former World Champion Jenson Button, Whitmarsh is optimistic that his outfit will now have the perfect blend of youth and experience.
"Uniting Sergio alongside Jenson will give us a very broad base of driver ability. Jenson is one of motorsport’s greatest ambassadors, and his unique blend of prodigious speed and canny race-craft makes him formidably well-armed to fight for victory on any grand prix circuit in the world.
"While Sergio is still developing his palette of skills, we're convinced that he's not only talented and quick, but also that he's willing and eager to learn. He's perfectly poised to develop into a world championship challenger. His addition to the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team provides us with the perfect two-pronged driver line-up for the new season."
Whitmarsh also took the time to tpay tribute to Lewis Hamilton for his efforts at McLaren, with the latter spending six seasons at the team since joining F1 in 2007.
"Finally, it's entirely appropriate that I should take this opportunity to pass on our thanks to Lewis (Hamilton)," Whitmarsh began to sum up. "He wrote a huge chapter of his life and career with us, and was, and always will be, a fine member of an exclusive club: the McLaren World Champions' club.
"It goes without saying that we all wish him well for the future, just as it also goes without saying that we hope and believe that Sergio, too, will become a member of that exclusive club before too long."
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