The Daily Mail suggested that McLaren may be actually looking at a “Plan B” after Martin Whitmarsh told reporters that they have no Plan B should LEwis Hamilton decide to leave for Mercedes. The paper says that the team have approached Sauber’s Sergio Perez as a possible replacement in 2013:
“McLaren’s approach to the 22-year-old Sauber driver is an indication the team are growing impatient with the negotiating strategy of Hamilton’s management, XIX Entertainment,” the Mail said.
“The move is the beginning of the end game. Hamilton may find his future is taken out of his own hands with the spectre of Perez being courted by McLaren, who do not want to be outmanoeuvred by the 27-year-old British driver.”
Perez is part of Ferrari’s young driver stable and yet Fiat President Luca di Montezemolo says the Mexican driver is not experienced enough for the role alongside Fernando Alonso. Some Ferrari fans, including yours truly, seem to think a world champion like Alonso is certainly capable of carrying the teams fight while Perez would do well learning under the tutelage of Alonso but fans don’t run Ferrari. It is a perplexing position given the current form of Felipe Massa when one considers what Perez might do in a Ferrari given his podium in a Sauber.
Equally perplexing is the decision that McLaren may be forced to make should Hamilton leave the team. It’s all speculation at this point but the Mail did say earlier this week that the team have a 50-50 chance of retaining the world champion. Would Perez make a good alternative to team with Button? If you’re a McLaren fan, what do you think of the prospects of a Perez-driving car in 2013? Do you feel he is too inexperienced for the role at Woking? Is it merely tactial negotiations to force Hamilton’s hand given the team said they have no Plan B in Italy just a week ago? Or could it be creative rumors showing up in the Mail?
