Official: Sergio Pérez signs with Force India

It is now official, the final line-up for Force India for the upcoming season has been announced. Sergio Pérez will partner with Nico Hülkenberg in 2014. The Mexican driver, recently let go by McLaren, finds refuge within the Indian team, having started his career in 2011 with Sauber. After some noted and remarkable performances, including a few podiums, Checo caught the attention of Martin Whitmarsh to replace the departing Lewis Hamilton at Woking in 2013.

But the McLaren this season had nothing to do with those of previous years, and Pérez, like Button, could not make it onto the podium even once after a very difficult journey. Disappointed by Pérez, but nonetheless loyal, Whitmarsh decided to part ways with his young prospect, not without trying to find him refuge in a mid-table team. This has now been done with Force India, which is known for its close ties with McLaren, particularly on a technical level.

The team of Vijay Mallya thus presents an interesting and driven duo of drivers who will want to demonstrate their talent and prove to the top teams that their reputation is well-deserved. This signing also signals the end of the 2013 lineup since Paul Di Resta and Adrian Sutil will no longer be wearing the Force India colors.

Sergio Pérez expressed his happiness to sign with the Indian team, which he considered a first choice: « It’s great to announce that Sahara Force India is my new team. Coming here has always been my first choice, and I am really happy that everything is confirmed now. I would like to thank Vijay and the whole team for giving me this opportunity. It’s a young team with a lot of determination, and they have produced competitive cars in recent years. Everything changes next season with the new rules, but I already have a good feeling for 2014. My plan now is to visit the factory and get to know everyone in the team. »

Vijay Mallya, the head of the Silverstone team, expressed his delight in welcoming Sergio Pérez and thus having a solid duo of drivers, along with Nico Hülkenberg, for the upcoming season: « It’s a pleasure to welcome Sergio to the team. He brings an exciting mix of youth and experience, and I have been very impressed with his recent performances. He has already secured several podiums and being chosen by McLaren last year is a clear indication that he is a driver to watch for the future. We have also recognized Sergio’s incredible talent and are proud to have him in our team. He clearly has good speed and is full of desire. Our job is to ensure he adapts quickly by creating a good atmosphere so he can deliver his full potential. By partnering Sergio alongside Nico, we’re entering this new season with a very competitive driver duo, which will help us achieve our objectives for the coming season. »