Quick mention: A gentle nudge to read (if you haven’t in the past week) the newly revised ‘Project’ page on TJ13 and the ‘Judicial Board’ page under the ‘About’. Any help is gratefully accepted even for 1 hour a week. By the way we hit 150,000 visits last night since

Musings: Formula 1 at times appears to me like Big Time boxing. Whoaah – hold those horses and that indecent thought… Bernie and Jean in boots, shorts and a vest…gloves held high…duking it out…Damn – where’s a cartoonist when you need one.

Anyway, I was thinking more about the boxing drama that is the weigh in. This is a strange ritual where the competitors strip off their clothes and are left with merely a fig leaf for modesty. They stand on some scales in front of scores of photographic lenses and flashbulbs operated by strange unknown people… and then they face each other – toe to toe – with curled lips, dark stares and snarls of aggression.

Then a little later in the media conference normal service mostly resumes. Each contestant will express a modicum of respect toward the other and at times one of them willingly plays the submissive underdog psychological game to lure out the champion.

In my mind I’m seeing Sergio Perez and Jenson Button. You may find this as unlikely as the aforementioned image of Mr. E and Mr. T (Todt that is – not the big guy from the A-Team). But don’t mock…Sergio’s home nation has produced some of the most awesome World boxing champions of all time in Oscar De La Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera (the ‘baby faced assassin’) and Fernando Montiel. “Cochulito” (The Rooster)

Then there was Erik Morales – “El Terrible” who interestingly was the only first Mexican fighter to defeat the Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao who held a stunning eight different titles in eight different weight divisions. “El Terrible” was himself a four-time world champion in the super bantamweight, featherweight, and junior lightweight divisions.

It is clear to me that Sergio needs a warrior like suffix adding to his name.  Sergio the ‘Shadow’ or the ‘Sandstorm’. P is really difficult in English, try it –  Perez the ‘Penitent’? or the ‘Poignant’ – I give up. Anyway whilst trying to find a fitting P word for Perez, I stumbled upon a couple of those ‘get your warrior name’ sites. I works like this you take first letter of your first name, look down their list and it gives a name to use. Then you take the 1st letter of your surname, check a second list, and this gives you another name. You then combine the 2 for your warrior name. So TJ13 readers you may address me in chambers as either ‘Sunheart’ or Tigerface’.

Just a few weeks ago whilst we awaited the F1 teams 2013 offerings to be unveiled, the media flocked to Woking to see a young Mexican arrive in a bright orange McLaren sports car – roof down in temperatures of 2 degrees centigrade –  arrive for his first day’s work.

We heard from Sergio that he intended to whoop Jenson’s butt and win the WDC in season 1 with McLaren. Jenson’s response was classic – he kind of stared down from his superior height advantage with a whimsical smile curling across his lips and he sent a chilling whisper of a message that was indeed crystal clear. “My home…My team…My car…kiddo. And don’t forget it”

Well Sergio was asked today by Spanish publication AS how things had progressed since he joined the McLaren team. He suggested the difference between Sauber and McLaren was “From zero to ten, I would say it is a 6 or a 7.” So much for neutrality…the bridges are well and truly burned back to Switzerland now.

Perez adds that the management style and philosophy at McLaren is fundamentally different from the Swiss team Sauber and made it clear that his experienced teammate Button has the advantage of having being involved in the development of the new MP4-28 car.

“Jenson is obviously a very experienced driver and has put a lot into the car. It is slightly adapted to his style, so it’s up to me to adapt to that, but I’m sure I will be completely ready in Australia.”

“In any case, I am delighted with McLaren. All my life I’ve dreamed of being on this team, and from day one I have felt at home.”

Ok. So Sergio accepts Jenson is top dog at McLaren, ruler of the roost in Woking; Top of the heap…King of the Hill…A number one… (all together now…..these ????).

Sorry I digress. Sergio was reminded of how previous drivers of Latin extract had fared with McLaren and that the relationships of Montoya and Alonso had ended in tears as with. He responded, “Every year, every race, there are different circumstances with the different drivers. There have been other Latin drivers who have won championships here.

“Nationality means very little. The most important thing is that you have the right circumstances and a good car. The car is very different from what I was used to, but it is competitive,” says Perez.

Round one to Jenson but Sergio has now positioned himself nicely. Lowered expectations, diffused any potential for egotistical point scoring – for now anyway – and he can let his driving do the talking on the track. Smart Kid.

Here’s a little Montoya Montage 😉

Team screw up….