Perez a 'future champion' after Sepang
Mar.27 (GMM) Those who watched Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix witnessed "the blossoming of a future champion".
That is the view of Patrick Tambay, a French F1 driver of the 80s who raced with Ferrari.
Sergio Perez currently drives for Sauber, but he is the cream of Ferrari's development programme and Tambay told RMC he thinks the Mexican is now definitely set for a future with the famous Italian team.
Perez's current boss Peter Sauber, however, insists that is not going to happen, at least for now.
"If there are teams like Ferrari that are interested in Perez, that's a compliment for us," the Swiss told the Blick newspaper upon arrival at Zurich airport this week.
Ferrari is Sauber's engine supplier and traditional political ally.
"But Sergio has a contract for 2012, which was agreed last year, and this is respected," added Sauber. "There are no talks with Ferrari."
Sauber, 68, also alluded to the fact that this year's red car is not exactly a world-beater at present.
"It would be the wrong time for him to go to Ferrari now," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
Sauber also repeated his denial that Perez was ordered to ensure he finished behind Fernando Alonso on Sunday in deference to the team's big cousin Ferrari.
"I'm not saying that's what happened," former engineer Joan Villadelprat told Spanish TV3 television, "but it wouldn't be the first time Ferrari have done that."
Sauber however defended the instruction to Perez that, whilst chasing down Alonso, he should "be careful".
"If anything had happened during the attack on Alonso," he insisted, "we would have zero points instead.
"And then you have nothing at all."
Share Or Save This Story
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Fernando Alonso's only goal in no-hope Baku: Save parts for F1's triple-header
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Fernando Alonso’s idea to ‘save’ F1 before the V8 return – and how realistic it is
"Mr Horner is looking for a job" – Frederic Vasseur claps back at Ferrari rumours
Lewis Hamilton: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’ and ended up 0.5s slower
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
Isack Hadjar earns "team-mate points" after "exceptional comeback" in Baku, says Alex Brundle
Cleetus McFarland buys Greg Biffle's 2004 NASCAR Cup race car for $47,000
NASCAR Chase has been best blend of entertainment and integrity
Liam Lawson: “I don’t understand” why Arvid Lindblad escaped penalty after wrecking my floor
Baku late-race chaos almost costs George Russell victory over Max Verstappen
How George Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
What we learned from Thursday practice at the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments