Sergio Perez says he is “heartbroken” by his decision to bring legal action against his Force India team to put them in administration.

The team entered administration yesterday. As RaceFans revealed, proceedings were triggered by a company linked to Perez and other Force India creditors.

In response to a question from RaceFans, Perez explained how the team had ended up in “a very difficult situation.”

“The last month or so has been extremely tough for me with the situation that our team was and in the end I ended up in the middle,” he said. “We got to a point where action had to be taken to protect the 400 people that work in the team.

“I should not really like to be involved in this because at the end of the day I’m just a driver and I’m here just to drive and try to focus. But then it got too much.

“I was asked by a couple of members of the team to go ahead and save the team and protect the 400 people that was working there. To me it was extremely hard emotionally and mentally. It’s really tough, [I] haven’t been able to focus on my driving and improving [at] being a racing driver.

“The picture is much bigger than it looks at the moment. We might go into a painful period but the outcome will be really good for all the team.”

Perez is owed over $4 million by the team. “It’s from last year, the money,” he said. However he insisted the purpose of the legal action was to protect the team.

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“There was a winding-up petition from another customer which would have closed down the team completely. Therefore I was asked to basically save the team to pull the trigger and put the team into administration. [It] has nothing to do with my outstanding amount. The only reason I’ve done it is to save the team.”

Force India’s staff “definitely” support his decision, Perez believes. “I’m sure everyone appreciates what I’ve done and if they don’t appreciate it right now because a couple of members of the team don’t know the full picture.

“If they don’t appreciate it now they will appreciate it in a week’s time. They will find out what the reason behind it. I’ve seen some quotes in the media that I’ve done it for the sake of getting my money and that has nothing to do with it. It’s mainly to protect the team.

“I’ve been put in this position. It’s not something that I’m enjoying. In the end I have to make the decision to protect the people who are working.”

“There are 400 people out there risking their jobs,” he added. “Families, team members. You cannot imagine.”

The team’s co-owner Vijay Mallya told the team in a message the administration order had come about because of Perez. Placing the team in administration jeopardises Mallya’s control of the team he has run for 10 years.

Perez has driven for the team since 2014 and scored five podium finishes for them, including one this year.

“I love Vijay, my heart is really broken because I know this is not ideal in the short term for him.

“But the big picture is really different. I have gone through a very difficult position, very difficult moment emotionally, more than mentally. For me it’s been extremely hard the position that I’ve been put in. I have to say I’m not going through a good time at the moment.”

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2018 F1 season