Perez dreams of Räikkönen's development curve
Perez dreams of Räikkönen's development curve
Turun Sanomat 23.9.2011 10:14:42
Sergio Perez, the first Mexican F1-driver ever since 30 years, is sitting with self-confidence in Sauber's premises on Singapore Grand Prix -paddock. The 21-year old youngster already handles interviews with routine.
When a Finn reporter asked him if he had any idol in F1 when he was younger, Perez says straightforwardly:
– I always liked to watch Kimi Räikkönen's performances. He was just so fast, Perez says and looks the reporter in the eyes as if to add more weight into his words.
At the moment many things combine Perez and Räikkönen. He has started his F1-career in Sauber just like Räikkönen did 10 years ago. He has the same racing number 17 as Kimi had during his debut season. He came in 7th in his first GP-race in Australia - just like Räikkönen did back in the times.
Whereas nowadays the 10 best get WC-points, only the 6 first ones got points during Räikkönen's season. Hence this will make a difference in the statistics.
Räikkönen was 6th in the end results, when Olivier Panis got a 25 second time penalty and was dropped behind Kimi. Perez - just like his team mate who came 8th, Kamui Kobayashi – were disqualified when the Sauber-car's rear wing didn't measure up to the demands.
Last week Perez tested Räikkönen's old Ferrari from 2 years ago in Fiorano.
– But on GP2-tyres, he reminds.
Perez hopes that the similarities with Räikkönen won't stop with this debut year.
– My dream is to win the WDC. Hopefully my development curve will from now on be the same as Kimi's was, Perez says.
The history of Rodriquez is familiar
The best drivers in F1 from Mexico come from a time long before Perez was born. Brothers Ricardo and Pedro Rodriquez did a spectacular pioneering work in the 60's and 70's. Both drove for Ferrari. Pedro is the only Mexican GP-winner with two bull's eyes - first with Cooper in South-Africa in 1967 and then with BRM in Belgium 1971.
Pedro Rodriquez is known in Finland also as Leo Kinnunen's team mate, when the duo took the world championship of prototypes in 1970.
– Of course I know the history from the Rodriquez-brothers' times. I feel great pride when looking at what they achieved. It is still totally a mega-thing, Perez confesses to TS.
Then what made Perez a F1-driver - surely not Mexico's traditions in this genre?
– My family has always been involved in motorsport. I started karting at a very young age and then we made a big decision about me moving to Europe. I changed continent thinking that some day I will be a F1-driver. I was only 15-years old when I moved to Germany and started driving in Formula BMW-serie.
Today Perez is almost a mega-star in his home country. When he drove a brilliant race on his first GP-weekend the F1-publicity in Mexican media was guaranteed.
– The Mexican reporters don't come to every race but the media follows the races very closely. I get good support from them all the time. Australia was quite a sensation and I got a big hype from that. Then again my injury in Monaco was the other extreme and it created big headlines. Apparently success and accidents bring the biggest headlines.
Close relations to the president also
Perez has extremely strong backgrounds from Mexico, especially since Carlos Slim and his companies are titled as the richest in the world and they sponsor Sauber, but the driver also has a warm relationship with Mexico's president Felipe Calderoni.
Perez has flew with the president's private airplane. When he was injured in Monaco and went to his home country to heal, Calderon invited him to the castle to ask how he is doing without using any middle-men.
– I often talk with the president. We have quite close relations. I think it has to do with these F1-schemes. He likes me. I met him when driving in GP2 and after that I have always got support from him, Perez smiles.
Goal achieved in debut race
Perez is satisfied with his first F1-season. He wasn't even surprised over his strong performance in the debut race.
– My goal was to score points immediately. I knew that the car was competitive. However I was very unfortunate in the qualification. I lost the morning free practice and didn't get to test the car with a little fuel at all. Then there was traffic in Q2. It's not easy to go from this to a race but I took a risk with optional tyres and everything worked well to the finish line.
– I could feel joy over the points for a few hours, until they were taken away.
– Then it went backwards after the accident in Monaco. I lost two races and it took another two races to get back in a real rhythm. Ever since Hungary it has started to go better again, although I didn't get any points in Monza because of an unfortunate gear problem.
You tested a Ferrari. Is your dream also to drive in Ferrari?
– My dream is to win the WDC. If Ferrari can give me that opportunity, then of course I will grab it. That test in Fiorano was part of my contract with Ferrari's driver academy. I was supposed to test already after Monaco, but since I got injured it didn't happen, Perez says.
Next year Perez continues in Sauber with Kamui Kobayashi.
– Our relationship works well but Kamui is a difficult team mate because he is so fast. He does his job well and sometimes it's a really tough challenge to beat him, Perez says.
Turun Sanomat, Singapore
HEIKKI KULTA
Facts:
Sergio Perez
Born: 26.1. 1990 Guadalajara, Meksiko
Home: Schindellegi, Switzerland
Height/weight: 173 cm/64 kg
Driving career:
2005-06 in Formula BMW ADAC Team with Rosberg
2007-08 in Britain's F3
2009-2010 in GP2 – came in 2nd in 2010 after Pastor Maldonado.
Fonte: Turun Sanomat/Tradução para o Inglês: Nicole
Bacana esta matéria de Kulta sobre Perez. Não imaginaria nunca que ele tem Kimi como ídolo. Legal!
Beijinhos, Ludy
Turun Sanomat 23.9.2011 10:14:42
Sergio Perez, the first Mexican F1-driver ever since 30 years, is sitting with self-confidence in Sauber's premises on Singapore Grand Prix -paddock. The 21-year old youngster already handles interviews with routine.
When a Finn reporter asked him if he had any idol in F1 when he was younger, Perez says straightforwardly:
– I always liked to watch Kimi Räikkönen's performances. He was just so fast, Perez says and looks the reporter in the eyes as if to add more weight into his words.
At the moment many things combine Perez and Räikkönen. He has started his F1-career in Sauber just like Räikkönen did 10 years ago. He has the same racing number 17 as Kimi had during his debut season. He came in 7th in his first GP-race in Australia - just like Räikkönen did back in the times.
Whereas nowadays the 10 best get WC-points, only the 6 first ones got points during Räikkönen's season. Hence this will make a difference in the statistics.
Räikkönen was 6th in the end results, when Olivier Panis got a 25 second time penalty and was dropped behind Kimi. Perez - just like his team mate who came 8th, Kamui Kobayashi – were disqualified when the Sauber-car's rear wing didn't measure up to the demands.
Last week Perez tested Räikkönen's old Ferrari from 2 years ago in Fiorano.
– But on GP2-tyres, he reminds.
Perez hopes that the similarities with Räikkönen won't stop with this debut year.
– My dream is to win the WDC. Hopefully my development curve will from now on be the same as Kimi's was, Perez says.
The history of Rodriquez is familiar
The best drivers in F1 from Mexico come from a time long before Perez was born. Brothers Ricardo and Pedro Rodriquez did a spectacular pioneering work in the 60's and 70's. Both drove for Ferrari. Pedro is the only Mexican GP-winner with two bull's eyes - first with Cooper in South-Africa in 1967 and then with BRM in Belgium 1971.
Pedro Rodriquez is known in Finland also as Leo Kinnunen's team mate, when the duo took the world championship of prototypes in 1970.
– Of course I know the history from the Rodriquez-brothers' times. I feel great pride when looking at what they achieved. It is still totally a mega-thing, Perez confesses to TS.
Then what made Perez a F1-driver - surely not Mexico's traditions in this genre?
– My family has always been involved in motorsport. I started karting at a very young age and then we made a big decision about me moving to Europe. I changed continent thinking that some day I will be a F1-driver. I was only 15-years old when I moved to Germany and started driving in Formula BMW-serie.
Today Perez is almost a mega-star in his home country. When he drove a brilliant race on his first GP-weekend the F1-publicity in Mexican media was guaranteed.
– The Mexican reporters don't come to every race but the media follows the races very closely. I get good support from them all the time. Australia was quite a sensation and I got a big hype from that. Then again my injury in Monaco was the other extreme and it created big headlines. Apparently success and accidents bring the biggest headlines.
Close relations to the president also
Perez has extremely strong backgrounds from Mexico, especially since Carlos Slim and his companies are titled as the richest in the world and they sponsor Sauber, but the driver also has a warm relationship with Mexico's president Felipe Calderoni.
Perez has flew with the president's private airplane. When he was injured in Monaco and went to his home country to heal, Calderon invited him to the castle to ask how he is doing without using any middle-men.
– I often talk with the president. We have quite close relations. I think it has to do with these F1-schemes. He likes me. I met him when driving in GP2 and after that I have always got support from him, Perez smiles.
Goal achieved in debut race
Perez is satisfied with his first F1-season. He wasn't even surprised over his strong performance in the debut race.
– My goal was to score points immediately. I knew that the car was competitive. However I was very unfortunate in the qualification. I lost the morning free practice and didn't get to test the car with a little fuel at all. Then there was traffic in Q2. It's not easy to go from this to a race but I took a risk with optional tyres and everything worked well to the finish line.
– I could feel joy over the points for a few hours, until they were taken away.
– Then it went backwards after the accident in Monaco. I lost two races and it took another two races to get back in a real rhythm. Ever since Hungary it has started to go better again, although I didn't get any points in Monza because of an unfortunate gear problem.
You tested a Ferrari. Is your dream also to drive in Ferrari?
– My dream is to win the WDC. If Ferrari can give me that opportunity, then of course I will grab it. That test in Fiorano was part of my contract with Ferrari's driver academy. I was supposed to test already after Monaco, but since I got injured it didn't happen, Perez says.
Next year Perez continues in Sauber with Kamui Kobayashi.
– Our relationship works well but Kamui is a difficult team mate because he is so fast. He does his job well and sometimes it's a really tough challenge to beat him, Perez says.
Turun Sanomat, Singapore
HEIKKI KULTA
Facts:
Sergio Perez
Born: 26.1. 1990 Guadalajara, Meksiko
Home: Schindellegi, Switzerland
Height/weight: 173 cm/64 kg
Driving career:
2005-06 in Formula BMW ADAC Team with Rosberg
2007-08 in Britain's F3
2009-2010 in GP2 – came in 2nd in 2010 after Pastor Maldonado.
Fonte: Turun Sanomat/Tradução para o Inglês: Nicole
Bacana esta matéria de Kulta sobre Perez. Não imaginaria nunca que ele tem Kimi como ídolo. Legal!
Beijinhos, Ludy
Comentários
É bom ler uma coisa assim, leve e docinha...
Sobre o Perez: bom piloto e uma gracinha também! ^.~ Adorei a última frase dele sobre o Kobayashi, rs.