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Perez was Mercedes' 'plan B' after Hamilton - report

Perez was Mercedes' 'plan B' after Hamilton - report

  • Published on 02 Oct 2012 16:48
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Sergio Perez was another candidate to oust Michael Schumacher at Mercedes, a German magazine claimed on Monday. Auto Motor und Sport said it means the great seven time world champion was therefore only the third choice to line up alongside Nico Rosberg in 2013, after Lewis Hamilton and Mexican Perez.

Ultimately, Mercedes secured its number one choice Hamilton, leaving McLaren to sign Mexican Perez to succeed him -- and Schumacher out in the cold. Prior to signing Hamilton, "the Silver Arrows bosses had stretched out their feelers to the Mexican (Perez)," journalist Michael Schmidt claimed.

It remains a fact, however, that Schumacher could have definitely kept his seat if, early in the summer, he exercised an active and unilateral 'option' for 2013. "Why play poker until October when the best time to extend the contract had already come?" Schmidt wondered rhetorically. "Had he signed after qualifying in Monte Carlo, Hamilton would never have been a topic."

A Mercedes insider is quoted as saying: "Michael's stalling until October forced Mercedes to think about alternatives." But other issues were also at play, including Ross Brawn, Norbert Haug and Niki Lauda's task in convincing the paymasters in Stuttgart to sign a new Concorde Agreement and keep the three-pointed star in formula one.

Correspondent Schmidt said the task was easier when pitching the contemporary star Hamilton or the "fresh blood" of 22-year-old rising sensation Perez, rather than "the 43-year-old veteran". So Hamilton will join Rosberg in Mercedes' 2013 garage, but only after his final title tilt with his boyhood marque McLaren is done and dusted.

It could be an awkward last six races in one shade of silver, but McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh insists he is not worried. "Lewis has assured me that at the moment he is a McLaren driver and he's focused on winning," he told the BBC. "He will be professional, the team will be professional around him and we will be seeing if we can do the best job we can." (GMM)
F1 News Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Sergio Perez McLaren Mercedes

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Date
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
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3 - May 5
United States of America
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24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
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United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
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United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
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1 - Nov 3
Brazil
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United States of America
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Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
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China Shanghai International Circuit
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United States of America Miami International Autodrome
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Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
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Monaco Monte Carlo
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Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
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Austria Red Bull Ring
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Hungary Hungaroring
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Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
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Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
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Italy Monza
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Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
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Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
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United States of America Circuit of the Americas
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Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Brazil Interlagos
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United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
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GB Lewis Hamilton 44
Lewis Hamilton
  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 3,377
  • Podiums 132
  • Grand Prix 208
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (39)
  • Place of b. Tewin, United Kingdom
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
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