Perez needs more time says Montezemolo

01/06/2012

Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo, believes that Sergio Perez needs more experience before he will be ready to become a regular member of the Maranello squad.

The Mexican, who is in his second season with Sauber, and a member of Ferrari's Young Driver Programme, has had a hit and miss season thus far, sometimes excelling whilst disappointing at others. With continued speculation over the fate of Felipe Massa some believe Perez to be a shoe-in for the Brazilian's drive, not so says Montezemolo.

"Perez is a good driver but to drive a Ferrari you need more experience," he told reporters at a conference in Morocco, according to Reuters. "I think he is one of the potential best young drivers for the future but before putting a young driver in a Ferrari I need more experience and more results."

As for Massa, who, according to some internet speculation may not even see out the season with the Maranello team, Montezemolo said: "We never take a decision before the second half of the season.

"I'm sure that, because we are improving our car, the car will be less difficult to drive," he continued, a clear reference to the fact that thus far the Brazilian has had more problems getting to grips with the F2012 than his teammate. "I expect from Felipe better performances as I have already seen in Monte Carlo, because in Monte Carlo he was among the five quickest drivers on the track and in the qualifiers. So I hope he will continue like this. At the moment we are not taking any decision yet for the future, because it is too early."

Asked about the possibility of the calendar expanding beyond twenty races, which is permissible under the new Concorde Agreement, the Italian indicated that Bernie Ecclestone will have fight on his hands.

"There are too many so we have to discuss about it," he said. "I will be totally against the possibility to increase the number of races," he said. "Twenty is the super maximum possibility. I will not be prepared to accept more than 20."