Sergio Perez, a former Ferrari academy driver who is now at Force India after a disappointing 2013 season with McLaren, told reporters ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend that he had been very close to joining Ferrari in 2014.
"For 2013 I had to stay at Sauber for one more year and then I would be going to Ferrari. But then the opportunity with McLaren came," he said in the wake of the Maranello outfit confirming veteran Kimi Raikkonen for another year with the team.
"It turned out it [McLaren] wasn't the right team and obviously in hindsight it damaged quite a bit my reputation," added the Mexican.
"But I believe with my results in the past year and this year, if I can have strong results then the opportunity can come in the near future to go back to a top team."
"I still have a very good relationship with Ferrari. In the past, I was even very close to getting to drive for them. In Formula 1 you never know what is going to happen in the future," mused Perez.
"At one point, Stefano [Domenicali] told me to stay one more season in Sauber, then go to Ferrari. But I got the offer from McLaren," revealed Perez.
Asked if he regrets his ultimately ill-fated switch to McLaren, he said: "No. At the time, McLaren was winning regularly and many drivers dreamed of being with this team."
"Then the situation reversed. Of course, now I realise that the decision seriously damaged my reputation, especially when you stop with a top team after only one year.
"But now I believe that thanks to the results in the past and also this year, I may get another opportunity to go to a top team in the future," said Perez who will start his 85th grand prix this weekend in Belgium.
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