Perez sometimes had to keep an eye on Alonso

 

Sergio Perez has revealed that last season, when he played for the Sauber team, Ferrari repeatedly asked him to "take care of Alonso". The Mexican's statement only confirms many speculations that the Italian team is also using political connections to help improve its chances of success on the track.

Perez was once a member of Ferrari’s program for young racers, and at Sauber he raced Ferrari engines. This year, he accepted an offer to replace Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, thus getting rid of all possible obligations to the Maranello team.

A journalist from Spain, Marca, asked him if it was any different when he now saw Sebastian Vettl or Fernando Alonso in the rearview mirror. “Not in my case,” Perez replied. "It simply came to our notice then. Last year, when I was still communicating with Ferrari, I was often asked to take care of and look after Alonso. But I don't know if they asked only me or the whole starting line. "

The 23-year-old doesn’t seem to have missed the opportunity now that he’s left the Ferrari family. “No, it was just an experience that brought me to a better place. I'm happy with McLarn. I hope to stay here for a long time, maybe even my career. ”

Although he sits behind the wheel of a race car that doesn’t do well, Perez is pleased, especially with the fact that he was as fast as Jenson Button in Melbourne. “I am pleased that Jenson is one of the best racers. He won three times in Melbourne. I didn’t know where I would be compared to him. Although I was not relieved, it is encouraging that I am as fast as the world champion, ”said Perez, who finished the first race of the year with McLarn in eleventh place.