McLaren willing to offer Sergio Perez 2021 IndyCar

McLaren - Sergio Perez

McLaren willing to offer Perez 2021 IndyCar drive

Ian Parkes

Friday 11 September 2020 21:30

McLaren is willing to offer Sergio Perez an IndyCar seat for next season.

Perez was ousted from Racing Point this week as the team has opted to recruit Sebastian Vettel to usher in its rebirth from next year as Aston Martin.

It leaves Perez with little time and very few options on the table to remain in Formula 1, which is his preferred option, with only seats at Haas and Alfa Romeo available.

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CEO Zak Brown feels Perez will opt for one or the other, but is prepared to provide him with an escape route should he choose.

Asked if he would look at the Mexican if he wanted to go IndyCar racing next season, Brown said: "Yes! Checo is an extremely good race car driver and racer.

"I think it's unfortunate he lost his seat, because of the two drivers [alongside team-mate Lance Stroll] he is the higher-performing driver.

"But as we know his father doesn't own the racing team, so when they wanted to bring in Vettel, it was clear Perez was going to be the guy to go.

"I think he'll probably end up at Formula 1 is my guess, at either Haas or Alfa Romeo, but if he had an interest in IndyCar, I think he's a great race car driver and we would definitely be interested in talking to him."

The Arrow McLaren SP team currently has Perez's compatriot Patricio O'Ward and American Oliver Askew on its books.

Brown has confirmed that running a third car is not viable at present, but given the financial support Perez has behind him, and other factors, it is not beyond the realms of possibility.

"We would need the funding for three cars, and at this point, we only have the funding for two cars, so we wouldn't be in a position to sign him today," added Brown.

"It would be something that, between the backing he has historically had and the commercial activity that we've got going on and the excitement that someone like Sergio would create, we would certainly look to see if we could put it together."

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