F1 News
Father Perez asks McLaren to be open-minded: 'Give him a chance'
- Sandy van Wijngaarden
Sergio Perez has had to leave Red Bull Racing and with it Formula 1, and Franco Colapinto has not yet been able to land a seat in the F1 grid for 2025 either. Antonio Perez Garibay, Perez's father, advocates for more Latin Americans in the premier class and pointed out that McLaren might just be the right team to open the door for them.
Poor performance and too big a gap to Max Verstappen forced Sergio Perez put of Red Bull Racing, and other F1 teams did not, or would not, make room for the Mexican driver in 2025. Yet, according to his father, Perez has not yet left the premier class.
Although Franco Colapinto was also unable to get a full time race seat for 2025 after a his debut last year, the Argentine managed to secure a reserve driver role at Alpine, and according to rumours, Colapinto could step in for Jack Doohan, the French marquee's chosen driver to start the season alongside Pierre Gasly, should the Australian not perform to the level the management would like him to.
'McLaren should make way for O'Ward'
Antonio Perez Garibay told SoyMotor that he will work to get a Latin American driver into Formula 1. "Getting into Formula 1 is very difficult, but coming second in the world championship is almost impossible. We are going to commit to getting a Mexican back into Formula 1, a Latin American. What is happening now, with Colapinto and with Checo, is a small step. We need to take more steps."
The biggest possibility lies with Pato O'Ward, former Red Bull junior and current McLaren reserve driver, and according to Perez Garibay, the Woking based team needs to give him a chance. "Hopefully soon we can have a Pato O'Ward or other young Mexicans in Formula 1. I think McLaren should open the door for him."
Whilst acknowledging that McLaren already has a strong duo, Antonio Perez Garibay is adamant O'Ward should be given a chance. "It's the same as with Red Bull or Ferrari. They have two very good tigers in their pen. I think Norris and Piastri are great drivers, very young, but that gap has to open for Pato."
This article was written in collaboration with Norberto Mujica.
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