Watson doesn't think much of Perez

[Scott]

Maybe he was an 'ok' driver in his time, but I've never liked John Watson, at least not what he has to say.  He used to be the 'expert' on the Canadian telecasts, and it just sounded as if he liked to hear his own voice more than give any actual information to the viewers.

So he's come out swinging at Perez after two races?   

Give the kid a chance to get used to the car.  Even Jenson is having trouble with it this year, and I would say Mclaren's woes aren't driver related.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22031593

[lkjohnson1950]

Sounds like he's not knocking Perez talent, just saying he may be slowing development because he's inexperienced. I think Perez' hiring surprised a lot of people.

[Jericoke]

Perez had more F1 experience than Hamilton when Lewis started with McLaren. 

Besides, which 'more experienced' F1 driver was available for McLaren to take?  Perez was the closest to winning a race of all the drivers available.

[lkjohnson1950]

Lewis was a bigger talent than Perez I think, and when he came up they had Alonso to develop the car. I don't think that is Button's strong suit either. The Hulk might have been a better choice, or even Sutil. We'll see, I'm sure he's still trying to get used to McLaren.

[Scott]

I think Sutil was a pleasant surprise.  Mclaren wouldn't have banked on him.  Perez also showed a lot more promise early in the season than Hulkenberg (when he was signed). 

But I still say...please Mr. Watson, it's only been two races.  Give him a chance to drive the car.  The whole point of bringing in a new driver and retaining an old one is to put the development duties on the old one.  It's Jenson's job, at least early on.

[F1fanaticBD]

Even the McLaren people are having tough time with MP4-28, because they were having some fundamental issues to settle. So judging a new driver after two race, when the car itself might worst in many years is pretty harsh. And if you look at the times of Perez, he is simply following Button everywhere, just lagging a little couple of tenths, which I am sure he will regain once he settled down. In the last race, when McLaren gave him a new set of tyres he set the fastest time of the race, might be little but it signifies a certain point, that if Mclaren could give him a stable, reliable and fast car, he will one, that you cannot ignore. Even Mr. Whitemarsh was praising him saying he is yet to put a foot wrong, where he could have easily done it, when driving this dog of a car.

When Lewis had his debut, McLaren was the fastest in the Grid, and if it was not for that Spygate issue that season, McLaren could have got the Constructor Championship easily. So if you want to compare, at least you should be judged in a similar sort of car, not when the cars are far apart.

[Alianora La Canta]

Besides, which 'more experienced' F1 driver was available for McLaren to take?  Perez was the closest to winning a race of all the drivers available.

The Force India pair of 2012 (di Resta and Hulkenberg) were more experienced than Pérez, and both considered for the McLaren role. Pérez's podium was impressive, but his inconsistency rather less so. I'm not sure whether di Resta or Hulkenberg would have been any more capable of getting the McLaren to work than Pérez, and I'm reluctant to diss Pérez this early because there's still time for him to make a comeback, but I don't think anyone involved will be happy... ...except maybe Vijay Mallya and Monishia Kaltenborn.

[Andy B]

Perez had more F1 experience than Hamilton when Lewis started with McLaren. 

Besides, which 'more experienced' F1 driver was available for McLaren to take?  Perez was the closest to winning a race of all the drivers available.

Lewis had access to the simulator for a long time before he got the drive which was why he went the way he did in 2007.