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McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh has admitted that Sergio Perez might not be retained as speculation that the Mexican is being dropped in favour of Kevin Magnussen intensifies.
Sky Sports F1 reported last week that the Woking team are seriously considering replacing Perez with new Formula Renault 3.5 champion Magnussen. The 21-year-old Dane is a member of McLaren's Young Driver Development Programme and Whitmarsh has described him in the past as being "lightning quick".
Speaking in a Vodafone phone-in on Monday, Whitmarsh said that "lots of people are being considered" for the seat but stopped short of naming names. He added that "when we've come to the end of those considerations we'll make an announcement".
McLaren have yet to formally announce either of their 2014 drivers, although a new deal for Jenson Button has been agreed.
Perez has expressed confidence in the past that he too will be retained but there is a feeling that the 23-year-old Mexican has not delivered in terms of outright speed.
Whitmarsh admitted that McLaren have hardly helped matters with their uncompetitive MP4-28 chassis, but neither did he give Perez a particularly ringing endorsement.
"We have not provided either of our drivers with a good enough race car this year. So in those circumstances I think Sergio has been a great team member and he's made a spirited contribution," Whitmarsh said.
"He's produced some really good races, some exciting races and ruffled a few feathers and I think he's done a pretty good job throughout the whole year."
Next season brings comprehensive rule changes but Whitmarsh said the question of how Perez might adapt to the new breed of F1 cars, powered by 1.6-litre V6 turbo engines and featuring enhanced energy recovery systems, was not the issue.
"In an era of change, you need bright drivers. I think Sergio is a clever guy and I think in that regard he's a good driver for anyone next year, including ourselves," he said.
"I think we've got two intelligent drivers now and I'm sure we'll have just that next year."
Whitmarsh also denied the suggestion that Perez will essentially be driving for his McLaren career in both the United States and Brazilian Grands Prix.
"He'll be driving very hard in Texas, I know - it's as close as he's going to get to a home crowd this year and we'll want to do a good job in front of them," he added.
"We'll be doing everything with him to see if he can get a good result.
"I think a lot of honest feedback both ways is best done in private and not done in public."
F1 has turned into teaching - hire a graduate, they're cheap and still get the job done.
It's dispiriting that we're not seeing the best men but the good-enough boys with money.
Sergio Perez: McLaren must be more humble and better organised
Sergio Perez says McLaren need to be better organised and more humble if they are to return to the top.
The Mexican's comments follow McLaren's decision to replace him with Danish novice Kevin Magnussen for next season.
"This is a great team. If I'm here next year there should be more organisation and many times more humility when facing reality" he told the EFE agency.
"McLaren has struggled to see where we were instead of carrying on thinking we had a car to win races."
McLaren are poised for their worst season since 1980, with two fifth places - one for Perez and one for team-mate Jenson Button - as their best results.
The team have not yet officially announced their decision to promote Magnussen - which has been widely reported in the media, including on this website - and Perez did not say whether he had been informed.
He added: "Right now the car we have is to fight for points. That's the reality right now and the team has struggled to understand this.
"Martin Whitmarsh is a great leader; I don't have anything against him. I think he leads this team well but at the end of the day a team doesn't depend on only one person.
"There are many more people that probably haven't been good enough, especially this year."
Perez heads this weekend into arguably his most important race of the year, the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
The event is held less than 100 miles from the border with Mexico and will be attended by tens of thousands of Mexican fans.
"Mentally after what's been said I'm OK," Perez said. "I have a lot of support from my country and that's what helps me carry on. If I don't drive for this team next year I have to study the best option and see what's best for my future."
He admitted he was "disappointed", saying: "When your objectives are much higher than your results, we have a reason to be disappointed, both me and the team."
Perez, who joined McLaren for this season as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, has been linked with a possible move to Force India, while there are also potential vacancies at Lotus and his former team Sauber for next Season
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