'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQf/2gAIAQEAAAAAUo//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oACAECEAAAAH//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oACAEDEAAAAD//xAAhEAACAQMDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwQBBQYABxESFSEkQv/aAAgBAQABPwDENlp95x7uL7tBVFuCvSWCD5j+C6HFwVKEeoG2OHRoMdFzxa2yp6liEh4mdKNZ9Hr/xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABACH/2gAIAQIBAT8ADb//xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIh/9oACAEDAQE/ALOE/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
McLaren driver Sergio Perez has been defended by tem principal Martin Whitmarsh after and event full Japanese Grand Prix weekend where the driver crashed both in the practice and the race.
Despite defending the driver, Whitmarsh confirmed that the team is yet to decide whether they want to retain him for next season.
“A lot of people had problems – it is that sort of circuit. With the incident on Friday, I think we can probably show 50 of this type of crash at that very corner and that same type of incident,” said Whitmarsh.
“It is something about going into Spoon there. You drift over to the right – Michael [Schumacher] did it last year on Friday. It is one of those things that happen. It is not great, but it was OK. I think Checo was racing well too. Where we were, he should have able to get seventh or eighth. Considering where we are at the moment, I think the last two or three races he has raced very well indeed,” he added.
Perez has been under pressure to perform recently after Fernando Alonso was linked with a move to McLaren. But after the team’s failure to lure the Ferrari driver, now Perez is more likely to retain his seat. However, Whitmarsh added that the team is in no hurry to make a decision.
“There is no hurry. I had said all along that let’s let a few races go by, and let’s have a chat. And that is exactly what we are going to do. There is no tearing rush at the moment to do this. I know it becomes a story and lots more spurious stories stem from it, but there is no hurry for it,” he said.
