Sergio Perez revealed that he had learned that he would leave Racing Point a few hours before his announcement wednesday night, saying that “no one told me anything. “
Pérez announced Wednesday on social media that he would be leaving Racing Point at the end of the Formula One season after seven years with silverstone-based team.
Racing Point demonstrated Thursday morning that four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will be enrolled in Pérez’s position for next season when he is renamed Aston Martin.
Pérez had a valid contract in 2021 with Racing Point after signing a three-year contract last season, and felt his long career with the team last month.
But Perez revealed that only on Wednesday did he get Confirmation from Racing Point that he would leave on a phone call from team owner Lawrence Stroll, who said the team is going “in another direction. “
“Nobody told me anything, but I already knew and understood several things,” Pérez said. “The final confirmation came yesterday.
“It’s all right. Seven years with the team, I know it all has a start and an end as well. We still have nine races to be proud of. “
Pérez also recently said that the Spanish Grand Prix was “a matter of time” until the hypothesis linking Vettel to his seat disappeared, as he won the team’s comments that he would stay until 2021.
“It’s the comments that I get, that the team wanted to stay with me and so forth,” Perez said Thursday.
“There have been discussions in the background about contracts and whatnot, which I am not willing to reveal because I think those things are left between the team and me.
“There were several things in the contract that we signed. In the end, they officially told me that it was not continuing.
“I didn’t expect that. That’s the way it is. “
MORE: Did Racing Point do anything by abandoning Perez?
In pronouncing his departure from Racing Point, Pérez said he had a plan B in position because he hoped to leave the team.
While he didn’t need to say he was disappointed with the way Racing Point dealt with the decision, Perez said greater clarity would have helped him better plan for his future.
“I understand, those are the ongoing negotiations. They took more than I thought,” Perez said.
“Probably a little more clarity would also have helped to relate to my future. Then I would have looked for a plan B, which would not have replaced anything. “
When asked through Autosport about his next step, Perez said his priority is to stay on F1 whenever he can find a competitive package.
“I’m all an option right now, ” said Perez.
“My main goal is to rejuvenate in F1. I feel like I’m still very young and hungry and I’m still going to be in Formula One.
“But it will have to be the right package. A package that gives me the maximum motivation to give my hundred percent on every shift. “
“It will also have to be a long-term project, aimed at 2022, because there I hope that the replacement of the rule will have a main effect. That’s the main explanation for why I need to continue for 22, because I think there are so many opportunities.
“I don’t expect to make a resolution in the short term. I’ll take as much time as I need.
“If I do not find anything horny in F1, I will think about other series, other things that we are going to see. “