Perez too 'involved' with Racing Point to consider McLaren switch

When it came to deciding last year for which team he would be driving this season, Sergio Perez felt that Racing Point simply had more to offer than McLaren.

Last summer, during the turmoil surrounding Force India's state of affairs, McLaren boss Zak Brown put Perez on his shortlist for 2019.

But despite the approach and the Woking-based outfit's proclaimed ambitions to restore its former lustre, Perez still felt that Racing Point, and its revitalization under the leadership of Lawrence Stroll, offered him a better outlook than a return to McLaren for which he had raced in 2013.

"McLaren is a great team, it is lacking a bit of time, but what convinced me more is the future here," said Perez.

"I've been so many years in this team, I feel so comfortable and I see a bright future.

• Stroll vows to make Racing Point 'one of the greatest teams' in F1

"And I got involved so much with the team, with the administration process, new ownership and so on, so I felt that there is more that I have to do for this team and I was very happy to commit for another year.

"I am ready to put all my best years in the team and ready to go together to the next step. That is the main target for us."

For all the commotion and disruption surrounding his team last season, Perez was impressed by Racing Point's ability to pick up where Force India had left off once the turmoil had ended.

And the Mexican sees a bright future ahead, and one that should have its midfield rivals worried.

"I am surprised about it. But I am also surprised with our performance, you know, how close we are, including all the issues we had," he said. "We should be nowhere by now.

"But to be where we are right now, it is impressive, and I think everyone should be very worried for next year on us.

"Now it's the time when we all have to deliver on another level. We have to release all the potential and that is a big thing for us. We have to be ready, all the team, to go to the next step."

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