Sergio Pérez is still “a child” according to Jo Ramirez

It has been official for several months now that Sergio Pérez will replace Lewis Hamilton at McLaren-Mercedes for the 2013 season. Since this announcement, many observers have questioned the real abilities of the Mexican to impress in a top team.

If the driver himself feels capable of conquering the world title as early as next season, others believe his adaptation may be more challenging than he thinks. Among them, Jo Ramirez, Pérez’s compatriot and former renowned manager at McLaren, believes the young Mexican lacks maturity: « He is still a child, he is very young. He has been very focused, very good, and very strong. But over the past two years, he has developed more as a driver than as a person. »

Jo Ramirez knows the drivers well, having been around the greatest during his career. He was notably close to the Rodriguez brothers in the 1960s, and then to Ayrton Senna in the mid-1980s when the triple world champion was still racing for McLaren. That is why he believes he has identified Sergio Pérez’s weakness, a small flaw that could hinder him in his early days with the Woking-based team: « There is an area where he has a lot to learn, especially when going to a team like McLaren… He doesn’t like the press very much, he doesn’t talk much to the press. As soon as he sees a journalist, he runs. He must learn. In a team like McLaren, he must be good with the press. »

According to Ramirez, the qualities of the former Sauber driver should allow him to perform well: « I think Sergio has progressed through all stages the right way. As a driver, he is full of confidence. When he talks with his engineers, he truly knows what he wants to do with the car and he does not let himself be convinced otherwise. »