Sergio Perez admits he is left in a “very difficult” position after losing his seat at McLaren two races before the end of the season.

Perez said he had little warning his place at the team was in jeopardy. “I found out a couple of days before you find out so was very late decision,” said Perez in the press conference at the United States Grand Prix.

“I had no idea it just came as a shock to me because the team always was giving a good feedback to me, everything was pretty much settled down and I was going to stay at the team.

“But then something happened in the last few weeks that they decided not to and it puts me in a very difficult position now to look forward for my future.”

Perez said he has “some options” for 2014 but doesn’t want to make up the numbers next year. “I want to stay in Formula One but I will not stay in F1 just to stay.”

“If I don’t find the right option for myself then I have to look at something else. But I’m pretty confident something will happen and hopefully find a good seat.”

He acknowledged his 2013 campaign had been “probably one of the worst in terms of results from myself” but added “I think I have a lot to offer to a team”.

Perez said he did not feel let down to have lost his seat before the end of his first season at McLaren.

“It’s been a difficult year and people from the outside can think whatever they want but inside the team every single person that works in the team know the amount of pressure we are having, everyone from Jenson [Button], myself, Martin [Whitmarsh], everyone.

“With McLaren the year that we had was so disappointing for everyone so they had to do some changes and, yeah, they had to change me and that’s the reason.”

“McLaren is a great team,” he added. “I have nothing bad to say about them. I really want to wish them the best.”

“We have had a very difficult season all year long. It was definitely not what I was expecting and also no one at McLaren was expecting it especially when I signed for them, they were such a competitive… they had such a competitive car. And it is not what we have right now and we didn’t have it all season long.

“So there is no secret it’s been a disappointing year for both parts. At the end McLaren decide to do another route. I have to find my own route and hopefully I can find the best possible seat available for my career because I am only 23 years old, I have a lot to give to the sport and I really hope I find a good seat.”

2013 United States Grand Prix

Image ?�?� McLaren/Hoch Zwei