Martin Whitmarsh impressed with Sergio Perez

Martin Whitmarsh has praised Sergio Perez's start to his first season with McLaren.

The Mexican has two championship points from the first two races of the 2013 Formula 1 season.

The team principal told Autosport.com: "He has done a solid job. It is easy to get rattled coming to a team like McLaren when you don't have a quick enough car.

"He is an intelligent guy. He is incredibly young but again in my mind he has not put a foot wrong. He is a team player.

"There are a few glimmers of positive things but we haven't started well. I am very, very blessed at the moment with the drivers we have got and their attitude and approach, and they are powering through."

Perez left Sauber after two seasons to replace Lewis Hamilton at McLaren.