Supporter Ramirez admits Perez has much to learn
Sergio Pérez and Lewis Hamilton at US press conferance
Ramirez, who worked for years at McLaren and is now 71, has a particular interest in Perez's switch from Sauber, given his long-time role as friend and advisor to the 22-year-old.
He confirmed recently that, when Perez was a teenager, he introduced him to McLaren's team management, who have now signed him as the departing Lewis Hamilton's successor.
Ramirez claims he also played a role in convincing McLaren to take the Telmex-backed Mexican on board.
"When I heard that Lewis was not very happy at McLaren and the relations between Lewis and Ron Dennis were a bit fragile, and that Martin actually had a good eye for Sergio, then I sort of started to move the ball around and fusillade Martin with emails and that," he said.
But Ramirez admitted that, in some ways, Perez remains a "child".
"As a driver he's full of confidence," he is quoted by the Sun.
"Where he has to learn a lot, especially going to a team like McLaren, he doesn't much like the press."
Indeed, Perez caused a stir late this season when - prior to the official announcement - he revealed that his replacement at Sauber will be Esteban Gutierrez.
Insiders, and even McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh, have acknowledged that Perez has much to learn.
Ramirez said: "The minute he sees a press guy, he runs. So he has to learn that. In a team like McLaren he has to be good to the press."
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
