Sergio Perez opens up on McLaren ‘bad moments’ influence on F1 career

Sergio Perez has opened up on the importance of learning from his "bad moments" during his one season with McLaren, noting that the experience influenced his entire F1 career.

Following two impressive seasons with Sauber across 2011 and 2012, Perez was signed by McLaren for 2013 to partner Jenson Button — a seat opened up due to Lewis Hamilton joining Mercedes.

Perez was in his early 20s at the time and still had much to learn, as highlighted by early tension between himself and Button. The tension arose after an on-track clash in the Bahrain Grand Prix — the fourth round of the season.

Both drivers complained over the radio, with the 2009 world champion criticising his team-mate for driving dangerously.

Clear-the-air talks were held, which ended the tension; however, Perez was not retained beyond his one season at McLaren, leading him to move to Force India, where he remained for seven years.

Reflecting on his time at McLaren, Perez acknowledges he could have behaved differently, with the lessons he learned at the Woking-based team being applied to the rest of his career.

Asked on the Cracks podcast what being at McLaren taught him, Perez explained: "Not to give up, to learn a lot from bad moments.

"I learned a lot — I think I was also very young, very immature in many things. I could have been more professional, I could have done things differently — I was 23 back then.

"So it was more of a professional learning within the team, in the transition moment. Within the team, supporting McLaren more in bad moments, perhaps taking different attitudes.

"It taught me a lot in that sense, and yes, it taught me to be more professional with my work, my profession."