Perez confirms McLaren F1 exit

Sergio Perez has confirmed through a statement that he will leave the McLaren F1 Team at the end of the 2013 season. He wishes McLaren luck for the future whereas the team itself has yet to finalise its driver lineup for 2014.

"First of all, I would like to thank McLaren for giving me the opportunity to be with them this season," said Perez.

"It has been an honour for me to have been in one of the most competitive teams in the sport and I do not regret even a bit having joined them. I have always given the best of me for the team and still despite this I could not achieve what I aimed for in this historic team."

Even though the Mexican continued by saying he is looking forward to completing the final two races of the season with the team, the 23 year old only recently hit out at McLaren in such a way that it looked unlikely he was still hoping for a seat at the team beyond this season.

Perez claimed that 2013 was one of his most difficult seasons ever, and certainly the most difficult since he entered Formula One. He said that the Woking based team lacked discipline and courage the face the reality of its troubled car during the ongoing season.

"I also wish to say thanks to my fans. They have never let me down, especially in difficult moments like these. I truly appreciate their support, they have never forgotten me.

"I have met a lot of new people at McLaren and I have made many good friends as well. I am eternally grateful to them. It has been a learning experience to me."

The team itself has yet to decide on who will be driving alongside Jenson Button in 2014. One of the team's drivers in the Young Driver Programme, the young Dane Kevin Magnussen is favourite for the seat following his win of the Formula Renault 3.5 championship this year.