The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Button and Perez start with a smile Posted: 31 Jan 2013 03:19 PM PST  Button (left) and Perez pose with the McLaren MP4-28 car at the company's headquarters in Woking, January 31, 2013. — Reuters pic The 2009 world champion, who rubbed along with fellow Briton Hamilton without them being the greatest of mates, commented on the difference at the launch of the Formula One team's new car yesterday. "Checo (Sergio) has been around a lot this week, the last two weeks, which has been good," the 33-year-old told Reuters after pulling the covers off the MP4-28 alongside a team mate 10 years younger. "It's good to see he has really been getting into the spirit of McLaren and spending a lot of time here, either doing sponsor activities or developing his relationship with the team. "When Lewis and myself were here together we never used to see each other. It used to be one day in the simulator and out the other," he added. McLaren were at pains during the Hamilton-Button years to present the pairing as two team players, drivers who genuinely got along despite being highly competitive rivals. They certainly had a healthy respect for one another's talents and appeared together in commercials and as popular cartoon characters. However, cracks began to show last season, particularly after 2008 champion Hamilton took to Twitter to complain — mistakenly — that Button had shown a lack of respect by apparently "unfollowing" him on the social media site. Socially, their paths rarely crossed. With Hamilton now at Mercedes, Button finds himself in the role of McLaren's established driver with vastly more experience than newcomer Perez. "We've spent a couple of weeks here and it's been very useful for him and for me to get to know each other but also for us to spend some time talking to the engineers and actually in the same room together discussing things," said Button of the new set-up. "I don't know Checo that well but he is very excited, I can tell that. This is a massive challenge for him, as it is for all of us, to race for McLaren, and a great opportunity. It's good to see he is excited about the coming season." Perez, with the smile of a man who has won the lottery and cannot quite believe his luck, felt he was getting on swimmingly. "I think he's a great guy," he said of Button. "He has a lot of talent, he's a great champion, I admire him a lot and have a lot or respect for him. I am really looking forward to learning from him and working with him. "I think together we are going to be good team mates." Perez's confidence was evident, despite not having scored a point in the six races since his move to McLaren was announced last year, as he stood next to Button and declared the championship was his aim. That is Button's aim too and this year, he agreed, was his best chance yet of adding a second title to his resume — not because of Hamilton's exit but because he simply had more experience of working with the team. The Briton is now the most experienced driver in Formula One in terms of races after starting out with Williams in 2000 and team principal Martin Whitmarsh saw that as a big factor in a team with two 'number ones'. "He's a team player and he's a winner," he said. "People sometimes misinterpret Jenson, he's so laid-back and comfortable in his skin that you think 'has he got the hunger to do it?' But then you see what happens on the racetrack." — Reuters |
| Beckham signs up for last tango in Paris Posted: 31 Jan 2013 03:15 PM PST  Beckham presents his new jersey after a news conference in Paris January 31, 2013. — Reuters pic The 37-year-old ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder will get as much attention off the pitch as on it with the world's media trailing him as he settles into the Parisian lifestyle. "David refused a lot of clubs from around the world, so we're very happy to have him," PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told a news conference at the Parc des Princes. "He will help us to reach our dream to become one of the best European clubs, he'll be of big value for the club, he'll be a big asset." "I'm 37 years old and was offered a lot of offers, more now than I've had in my career, and at my age. I'm honoured by that. I chose Paris because I can see what the club are trying to do, I can see the players the club are bringing in," said Beckham. Since taking over less than two years ago, Qatar investors have spent over €200 million (RM800 million) on transfers, signing Swede striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Argentine internationals Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi as well as Brazil centre backs Thiago Silva and Alex. Beckham, who has signed a five-month contract with PSG, said his wife, former Spice Girls pop group member Victoria, and his children would continue to live in London, adding his salary would be donated to a children's charity in Paris. "My family will be staying in London because my kids go to school there," he said. "I can see what the club is trying to do. Paris is an exciting city, always has been and always will be but now there's a club that's exciting to me. I'm happy I've been picked to be part of the future of PSG. I'm very excited." The Englishman said he would not receive any salary from PSG, with the money being paid instead to a Paris children's home. Beckham, who won six Premier League titles and the 1999 Champions League with United, could step on the Geoffroy Guichard pitch in St Etienne for the first time since he was sent off playing for England in a World Cup match against Argentina in 1998. At that time, the Englishman had longer hair and boyish looks. He is now the second oldest player in Ligue 1, a league he is keen to help grow. "He may struggle at the highest European level, but he's got what it takes to be good in the French League," former PSG goalkeeper Jerome Alonzo told Reuters. "I might have only signed until the end of the season, but I consider myself to be part of the future of this club: in helping this club to grow and the French league to grow, and to help this club become one of the biggest powerhouses in football," Beckham added. He said he did not expect to start every single game. "I don't expect to come into this team and play every single game. I have to work for that. If I work hard, it's down to the manager," he said. "I'm still fit, I can still play like I did when I was 21. I've not lost any of my pace because I didn't have any pace." Beckham won league titles in his final season with all three clubs he has played for on a permanent basis: Manchester United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy. His career also included two loan spells at AC Milan in 2009 and 2010 during which he played for PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti. "Carlo is one of the best managers I've played for," Beckham said. PSG, who have not won the French title since 1994, lead the Ligue 1 standings with 45 points from 22 games. Beckham conceded he would need a few weeks to gain full fitness and said he was excited to be playing alongside Ibrahimovic. "He is a personality who goes beyond football, like Zlatan Ibrahimovic perhaps. They are players who give an important visibility to Ligue 1," France coach Didier Deschamps told reporters. Beckham said Ibrahimovic was a special player. "It's great to have a character like him in a team. He's a confident player who plays with passion," he said. "He is one of the players I'm excited to play alongside." Beckham will wear jersey number 32, as did Magic Johnson at the Los Angeles Lakers. — Reuters |
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