Sergio Perez reveals past 'Mercedes option' over F1 seat

Sergio Perez has revealed he had an option to join Mercedes before his early career journey resulted in a seat at McLaren.

Perez joined the F1 grid in 2011 with Sauber and impressed with his early results which included three podiums during the 2012 season.

The following year, Perez joined McLaren alongside Jenson Button, replacing Lewis Hamilton, who made the switch to Mercedes.

However, Perez has revealed he had various options open to him - including Ferrari, having been associated with its junior programme during his opening seasons on the grid.

“It was very quick,” Perez told the Cracks podcast.

“I was the most wanted driver on the grid - normally young drivers have that, when a young driver arrives and gets results quickly, all teams want him because they don’t know what he can achieve. 

“So I had three different options from three big teams, one obviously Ferrari because I got to F1 thanks to Ferrari, being part of their academy, and the logical thing was to follow that path, but Ferrari couldn’t offer me a seat until 2014. 

“I was already desperate, young, you want it already, it was the best team to start fighting for championships, and I was desperate.”

Perez revealed that had Hamilton opted to stay put at McLaren, he could have made the switch across to the Brackley-based squad.

“And out of nowhere the option comes - I never thought, I always thought there were two teams I’d never drive for: McLaren and Red Bull, because they always have their drivers forged through their academy. 

“And then McLaren comes. They were nervous because Hamilton was leaving, and if Hamilton didn’t go to Mercedes I also had the Mercedes option. 

“So McLaren came very convinced and offered me a contract, and I took it.”

Perez only lasted one season at McLaren as a disappointing campaign saw him depart the Woking-based outfit at the end of the year.